《Days Gone [Cryptids - Drama - Low Fantasy]》


 0-Prelude

    0-Prelude


    -July 9<sup>th</sup>, 1:00AM


    The world entered into a cataclysmic, irreversible pact. One that reshaped the past, present, and future. This agreement extended beyond mere historical and geographical changes, injecting unknown forces into events once thought well-documented. It penetrated to the core of humanity, shattering minds with an unforgiving wave of enlightenment. It was as if those accustomed to darkness suddenly found themselves thrust into a blinding light, faced with landscapes never before imagined. Humanity, already teetering on the brink of its own demise, was now assured of survival.


    Daegon, a rather young-looking adult male with short shaggy ash-gray hair, sat in a rather empty looking room on a large well used couch. A singular light shined above him on the right, as he read over an old looking Journal. It wasn¡¯t his, but held a lot of valuable knowledge. It felt only right to review it from time to time, especially after such a close encounter. Daegon turned a page, and continued to read the old text¡­


    The days before Humanity¡¯s Deal with the Supernatural was hell. World War, Civil Unrest, and in-fighting drove the human population to an unrecoverable capacity. Mutually Assured Destruction, the World Powers called for. Nuclear deterrents were launched, blazing fires erupted, and irreparable damage spread across the globe. But, the tenacity of humanity continued forward regardless of the teetering odds against it. Final outcrops of humanity sprung up in massive walled cities across the world as people came together, desperate to survive. While many fell, a resilient few survived until there was nothing left to cling to.


    At some point, the old Mythos began to draw attention again as the final flickers of humanity were bound to leave the planet in its terrible state forever. Anything to cling to, in desperation.


    ¡°What if we could change the past?¡± ¡°Why did it come to this?¡± ¡°If we could do anything to change the world¡­¡± ¡°Gods, Demons, or anything in-between something could give us salvation¡­¡±


    Such questions, diving into forgotten stories and books, began the death wails of an ending civilization. But such wails weren¡¯t going unignored. For the first time in over a millennium, humanity had a singular belief, a singular question. The Supernatural, who solely depends on Humanity for their own survival through belief¡­ Offered their first, and only Deal.


    Since the deals ¡®reset¡¯ took place roughly 130 years ago, hundreds of thousands of lives came back into existence. Enough that, the few remaining Bastions began to grow and prosper once again under their self-sufficiency. But, not without cost. Thousands of cities were lost, replaced, or forgotten. Irreparable damage from the planet was undone, but replaced with a much more reliant threat. Beasts of Lore, Beings of Eons past, and the horrors of nightmares became a true reality. Untold terrors of the sea, who drain the sanity from those who look upon them¡­ Human like creatures that prey upon your very blood¡­ Spiritual beings who live for the torment of your very soul¡­ As if Pandora¡¯s Box was unleashed upon the world, so did it provide its salvation. But, how?


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Humanity gave birth to a new dominating force on the world, and guaranteed their own survival as a species. Contracts, would be the limiting force of the new Apex Predators.


    All beings sprung forth from Humanity¡¯s Deal were bound by a World-Bound Contract. ¡®World Bounders¡¯ as they are called, are held to a very set standard. These rule over them in a very drastic way, but normally hinder them according to their accustomed mythos from the ideas or thoughts of humans. While there¡¯s no direct consequence for breaking their own set of rules, other World Bounders and Overseers will become aware of such an act when near them. Meaning, just because a Supernatural being shouldn¡¯t leave an area or prey on a specific type of person, doesn¡¯t mean they can¡¯t choose to ignore it. But, in breaking their own rules they become an easier target for those around them...


    Daegon was slowly nodding off, as both the book and his eyes began to droop before he caught himself.


    ¡°I¡¯m exhausted¡­ I think that¡¯s enough review today.¡± Daegon spoke, moving toward the couch and sitting down. ¡°Oh, Little Daegon¡¯s done for the day? You¡¯re going to sleep for quite a while with those wounds. I could just heal them for you, if you¡¯d just ask.¡±


    ¡°No thanks.¡± Daegon spoke out loud, despite the voice only being in his mind. He¡¯s gotten used to it at this point, having to share his existence with her. Despite a rather copasetic and beneficial co-existence, their beginnings were very much the opposite.


    <u>¡°Oh come now, Little Daegon. Your pain is mine, and I did save us once again. A little walk is all I need.¡±</u> The voice spoke, borrowing Daegon¡¯s mouth. It was teasing, playful, but most importantly, dangerous. Daegon¡¯s co-existence with this being could only be described as z Rjyd, jl Zmgxqmd Gjmdlzgd. Something, forged and sealed well before Humanity¡¯s Deal. Forgotten to time, forgotten to nearly all. Similar to bedtime stories told to scare children, it¡¯s said that there were Supernatural Beings on the planet well before Humanity¡¯s Deal, and that they should be feared above all else¡­


    Daegon huffed, collapsing onto the couch and placing the journal beside him. Drawing blankets over himself, he winced with discomfort. He was just a human, and the horrors he had narrowly escaped tonight marked the beginning of yet another uncertain path into the future. Most people in his position would not have survived. Those who did would likely harbor resentment toward the supernatural. The constant struggle for survival would erode their mental fortitude, leading them to surrender to the grim reality of their existence. However, Daegon was different. Despite his deep-seated fear, he had developed a certain comprehension of the beasts and creatures through countless interactions. Perhaps it was his solitary lifestyle, which kept others at a distance, that allowed him to form a unique perspective on the supernatural. Or maybe it was the presence of the being he shared his existence with. After enduring numerous life-and-death situations...


    Whatever the reason, Daegon finds himself unwittingly thrust into a position of importance. As he drifts off to sleep, thoughts of the world''s dangers linger in the recesses of his mind, keeping him awake just a while longer. Not all supernatural entities feed solely on human blood, bones, and flesh. Some insidiously invade the mind, draining vitality, emotions, or mental capabilities. Fortunately, with the vast disparities between human and supernatural lifestyles, such concerns should seldom intrude upon his home. Even as ''approachable'' beings have been gradually integrating into human society, worries about their misdeeds remain minimal. At least, for now¡­

 1-Intervention

    1-Intervention


    -July 12<sup>th</sup>, 7PM


    ¡°The cost of survival¡­¡± I thought to myself, recounting the meager number of coins. It was strange holding currency again. But, what¡¯s one to do when there¡¯s nothing else to trade for? The promise of value, shared between all living things. A deal struck: Value for value.


    ¡°If you find anything else, be sure to bring them here first. I¡¯ll be sure to guarantee a positive outcome for such Rjszr bzdljmzcq.¡± The figure behind the desk growled before fading into the back of the shop. Out of sight, out of mind. Forgetting the reason I entered in the first place, I knew I completed what I came here for. I paused, and glanced about the pristine place. For as well stocked as the shop was, it was always empty of customers. Walking in always felt like being the stores first, or last, customer.


    ¡°We should move on¡­¡± Exiting out the pane glass door, the crossroads were mostly barren. What little lighting was available provided no insight to the beings who wandered late at night. Even within the protected walls of such a bastion, it was wise to never be out so late. ¡°Those who walk in the light, should fear those in the dark.¡± But, more importantly, should fear those that also walk in the light. ¡°Lest one¡¯s cost be snatched by another.¡± Such as myself, I suppose. I waited outside the shop, with its flickering lights peering down on me.


    A distant shriek, a bloodied cry for help, erupted in the distance. A bleak reminder of the nature of the world. After a pause, the street lights flickered back on dimly. It was time to move on once again. There was no rush, so long as I kept to myself. I opened my phone and began to browse a news website. Tomorrow¡¯s forecast predicts rain, with curfew reinstated once more. Plus, it seems the royalty have lifted some taxes after a good harvest. One could argue, the world has never been in a better state. The ability to learn was abundant, the streets were clean, buildings upkept, and families blossomed. ¡°For all the wrong reasons¡±. It¡¯s astounding, how ideals adapt in the face of Armageddon.


    A trembling voice emerged from the darkness behind me. "C-can you h-help¡­?" it whimpered. Pausing, I surveyed my surroundings. I found myself on a deserted wooded side street, with houses spaced widely apart. It felt like something out of one of those cheesy horror flicks, where the monster lurks just beyond your sight. "You''d help me, right?"


    Without a word, I turned to face the source of the voice. There stood a tall, alluring woman, her clothes recently torn, tears streaming down her face as she extended a trembling hand. Although there were no visible injuries, it was clear she had been running. I hesitated, caught off guard by her appearance. "Please." She pleaded, her voice quivering, "I''ll give you anything. Just, help me."


    ¡°W-what do you need?¡± I asked, slightly shaking myself. My mind felt a bit hazy trying to piece together this situation as I quickly pocketed my phone. My eyes couldn¡¯t leave this innocent girl before me.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m being chased, you can give me passage right? Can fulfill my needs?¡± She asked, quivering. Of course, I was the only option available. I had to help.


    "O-of course!" I responded without hesitation, feeling a blush creep onto my cheeks. Blinking, I found her suddenly standing in front of me, holding my hand tightly. She was too close, uncomfortably close. Only now did I realize just how much taller she was compared to me, her torn clothes more revealing than I had initially noticed. It took a moment for me to realize I had to look up to meet her gaze, feeling an uncanny allure.


    "W-we should get going. I-I know a place nearby." I stammered, breaking away from her intense stare. Her eyes seemed filled with something... A shiver ran down my spine as the atmosphere around us grew heavy.


    ¡°Quickly, this way.¡± We were close to where I was staying, it would be quick. ¡°Hhhmmm¡­.¡±


    I grabbed ahold of her hand and we took off down the road. I reached back in my pocket to grab my phone, desperate to make a call. ¡°No signal.¡± I¡¯ll try again. ¡°No signal. Something¡¯s close.¡± I glanced behind me, but only saw the woman, still with tears, and those piercing eyes. Before I had a chance to speak, she tripped. Shock grew over her as she flew forward toward me. I turned, letting go of her hand, as she landed on me taking us both to the ground going limp. ¡°Hey, lady! Now is not the time to pass out!¡± I yelped. It was no use, she was unconscious.


    To say she was heavy was an understatement, one could have confused her for a bag of cinderblocks. I moved her enough so that I could sit up and peer down the road we just came down. There was definitely something coming down the road. ¡°Bloodlust is in the air.¡± Being still mostly under her weight, I rolled onto my stomach and, summoning all my strength, lifted her onto my back. I didn¡¯t realize it, but we were right outside the place I was staying. It felt like an Olympic feat to make it inside, shouldering the door open, and crouching slightly through to get her in. It was a very plain, small, and mostly unlived in house. I struggled to make it to the couch, and sat her down. I fell to the floor and heaved for a few seconds, not remembering the last time I had to expend so much energy. My chest and head felt heavy. ¡°Three days ago, little one. You had to admire my beautiful form again, remember?¡± I paused, and looked about. Nothing seemed out of place, which was a good sign. With one last breath, I stood up and went back to close the door, locking it with the three metal bars. The windows were already barred and covered, so there wasn¡¯t a worry there. I flicked on a switch and a singular light turned on next to the couch, where the unconscious woman was now slouched over to one side. The previous haze filled my head again, she was gorgeous. Her hair had a brown and a dark red-orange mixture, and her face had sharp features. Her tattered casual outfit exposed a rather lean and muscular body. In a fight between the two of us, there was no doubt in my mind she would tear me asunder.


    I approached her, drawn inexplicably to her beauty. But these thoughts, they weren''t mine. They raced through my mind at a rapid pace, foreign and unsettling. With a forceful shake of my head, I attempted to dispel the mental fog clouding my thoughts. As I drew closer, my gaze swept over her features. She was barefoot, her jeans straining at the seams as if something were pushing against them from within. And her hands... Her hands were adorned with long nails, dripping with blood. Blood? Despite the torn fabric of her clothes, there were no scratches, no bruises. ¡°No bruises, no blood¡±, echoed the voice within me. Where did the blood come from?


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    I snapped back to reality; I was hovering over her unconscious body, a hand on her shoulder. ¡°But she wasn¡¯t unconscious.¡± Her eyes were open, fixated on mine. A fierce pair of golden eyes locked onto mine, intense enough to pierce through my very soul. How did I not see these beforehand? ¡°Fight or flight.¡± I froze, realizing the situation.


    ¡°Fulfill your needs¡­ give passage¡­¡± I stuttered, finally comprehending her intentions. The woman¡¯s unwavering golden eyes complimented the now sinister grin on her face. Rows of vicious pearly whites, meticulously maintained by those foolish enough to prey on her allure. My legs gave way beneath me as I sank to the ground, as she slowly began to grow in size.


    Her metamorphosis unfolded with excruciating precision, a horrifying spectacle to witness. Each movement appeared deliberate, each phase of transformation adding another layer of despair to my predicament. Layers of deep red-bronze fur unfurled from her arms, cascading down her form like a sinister waterfall. Skin gave way to fur, revealing the raw power pulsating beneath. Claws, cruelly sharp, extended to their full, menacing length. Her chest swelled with ominous purpose, straining against fabric that once hung loose. The unmistakable refinement of an apex predator exuded from every inch of her being. Even her legs, tempered by untold horrors, tore through the tattered remnants of her clothing. With each sinewy flex, they served as a chilling reminder of the futility of escape. At her zenith, she exuded an aura of dominance, yet it was evident she held back her true, terrifying potential.


    ¡°Oh, come now, morsel.¡± She taunted, her voice dripping with malice. ¡°You were so close. Won¡¯t you have your way with me? It¡¯s only natural to want some of this. Just a lick is all you need, is all I need... Oh, but that scent of yours¡­ Yes, a rare treat indeed.¡± Her words drowned in vicious mockery, as she treated herself to drops of blood on her razor-sharp claws. Blood. But from where?


    I grasped my side, and felt three scalpel perfect incisions oozing blood. ¡°You live alone...? A wanderer...? You¡¯ve lived this long as such a delicacy? I guess I¡¯ll take your destiny for myself!¡± ¡°Were the rules broken?¡±


    With a split-second of barely conscious thought, I managed to evade her clawed hand as it grazed my face. I screamed in terror, scrambling desperately towards the door. Somehow getting to my feet felt in vain as I was sent across the room into the wall with a heavy kick. ¡°Broken nose, ribs, cracked pelvis, and your ear drums are ruptured.¡± Blood streamed down my face blinding my left eye, as I struggled to regain my bearings. Slowly, I got back up leaning against the wall as a menacing laugh echoed in the hollow home. ¡°Oh, little treat, how you wiggle so. Let¡¯s not get ahead of ourselves. The night is young, after all. Let me drain you, slowly, painfully.¡± Her voice, overflowing with spite.


    ¡°Why are you doing this? I thought I was saving you.¡± I mustered saying, coughing up a bit of blood, anything to buy time to stall this inevitability.


    ¡°Prey is nothing but prey. It just happened to be your time. Color me impressed though, little thing. You bided your time. Alone, in the woods, with a beautiful girl. You resisted the temptation of your desires right then and there and lead me to a place far away from others. You even carried me! Do you know how many just drag me? But, alone in the comforts of your place, you wzt sjkl hzs hxdw nq, zmt vjl dwzd sjk''lq nxmq mjh.¡±


    Her words twisted into a strange cadence, veering into realms beyond my understanding. Or, perhaps it was my own senses failing me as I lay broken and bleeding. What was clear, was the dreadful laughter following her statement.


    <u>¡°Liar.¡±</u> A chilling voice borrowed my mouth, the words ringing across the room. The beast of a lady froze, her eyes darted around the room in confusion. She didn¡¯t realize the voice came from me. A sudden burst of adrenaline surged through me as I realized I was next to the barred door. Escaping was within my grasp. I rushed towards it, throwing the bars off. Before I could open the door, I was forcibly thrown back against the wall, coming face to face with the enraged beast. A vicious crunch rang throughout the room, emanating from my right shoulder. I screamed in agony as I felt her claws dig deep into my flesh. Her hot breath of rage enveloped my face as I dangled off the ground, her grip tightening around me to meet her gaze.


    "I don¡¯t know what trickery you just pulled, but you¡¯re not escaping!¡± She roared, her voice reverberating through the room like thunder. Her maw opened wide, revealing a perilous array of razor-sharp teeth, glistening ominously in the dim light. As her voracious breath washed over my face, I recoiled at the metallic tang lingering in the air, reminiscent of fresh blood. The size of her maw was enough to engulf my entire head in one merciless bite. No amount of struggling could break free from the iron grip of this monstrous predator. As despair crept into my mind, a grim resignation settled over me like a shroud, signaling the inevitable end drawing near. Like a final chapter in a tragic tale, opening the door to an eternal afterlife... ¡°Death.¡±


    ¡°Usrzy, xy dwzd sjk?¡± What sounded like a young boy¡¯s voice echoed off the walls, but the words were becoming muffled and unintelligible to my fading consciousness. Reality began to slip away. The teeth, mere moments from penetrating my skull, paused. Her voracious breath ceased, and a glimpse of recognition danced in her eyes. ¡°Sjk nzmzcqt dj vxmt zmjdwql jmq xm dwq yznq mxcwd? Wqlq X dwjkcwd sjk zrlqzts grqzlqt jkd njyd jv dwxy brzgq.¡± The boys voice spoke again, with what I could only consider monotony. Her maw and gaze swept over to the doorway, revealing a kid in his early teens. I knew him, but from where? I struggled to focus, unsure if he was speaking a different language or if the damage to my head distorted his words.


    ¡°R-run kid!¡± I croaked, through blood-soaked words. The life I felt I gave up on, rushed back stronger than ever for a brief moment seeing an innocent kid staring death in the face. What strength I had left, I launched a left hook at the eye of the beast in front. Before I made contact, I was swiftly dropped to the ground. Slumping over against the wall, I had no strength left to move. My eyes, growing heavier by the second.


    <u>¡°Liar.¡±</u> The voice spoke again through me, this time the beast took notice. She exchanged tense glances between me and the boy. It sounded as if she was stuttering, trying to give¡­ An excuse¡­? The last thing I could make out, before succumbing to blood loss was, ¡°Zylas, I think we need to have a talk.¡±.


    ¡°Rest now, little Daegon. A deal is to be made when you awaken. Take nothing less than everything if you¡­ If we, are to survive. That kid is not what you think.¡±

 2-Two steps forward

    2-Two steps Forward


    -Two weeks later, July 26<sup>th</sup> at 9PM


    ¡°Daegon, plxmcxmc z hwjrq mqh nqzmxmc dj rjszr bzdljmzcq." A man¡¯s voice said behind a counter. The shrouded shop-keep spoke mostly in growls. ¡°Special request for special delivery.¡±


    Despite it being quite some time since my last visit, the shop seemed exactly the same as before. Pristine, not a singular item out of stock, or misplaced. ¡°Going to rest more, don¡¯t worry I¡¯ll keep you in the back of my thoughts little Daegon.¡±. Though, it feels a bit different now. Walking over to the counter, the shop-keep slid a package wrapped in leathers with weird symbols. Touching the package, those same symbols glowed in a symphony of colors, before fading.


    ¡°All is set now, your partner awaits.¡± The shop-keep spoke. He raised a finger behind me, pointing towards the door as a light ringing sound filled the room. Turning about, a hulking figure shadowed my presence. ¡°Fight or Flight¡±. I panicked, and instantly ended up with my back on the counter, pushing the package away as I tried to grasp what exactly was in front of me. A massive hand quickly made its way by me as it stopped the package from falling off.


    ¡°Honestly human, you have to be more careful with that.¡± The massive creature before me chuckled in a deep voice. Twice my size, covered in deep blue scales with some brown fur with a bearlike head, and an oddly well-fitting blue uniform, I was at a loss for words. Picking up the package, it seemed almost comically small compared to the vicious obsidian claws on his paws. He quickly stuffed it into his uniform before turning his attention back to me. ¡°Call me Jaskrim.¡±


    ¡°P-pleasure. I¡¯m Daegon.¡± I fumbled. Despite studying and being introduced to multiple new beings over the last week or two since the incident, the anxiety of my newfound situation hasn¡¯t faded in the least. Jaskrim smiled, a grim, face covering smile.


    ¡°Gjnq mjh, hq wzfq nkgw hjle dj tj!" He growled happily. Eager it seems, to get going.


    ¡°He does not understand such tongues.¡± The shop-keep cooed behind the counter.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. First time I¡¯m talking with a human. You must be like, the first human in¡ª¡± Jaskrim was in the middle of speaking when the store door flew open, accompanied by the familiar chime of the bell. A female Faun rushed in, her human upper body contrasting sharply with the goat legs and horns. She glanced around anxiously before locking eyes with me, her gaze flitting nervously between Jaskrim and me.


    ¡°Excuse me, hello! Sorry for the intrusion.¡± she exclaimed hurriedly, ¡°I-I''m not here for your flesh or ears, I assure you. Your children are safe. It''s just a package delivery.¡± With a swift motion, she handed me a small package, barely pausing to wait for my response. ¡°There you go. Just sign, yup and then, yup yup! Okay bye!¡± And with that, she was out the door as quickly as she had arrived. The entire interaction felt frantic and rushed, with barely enough time to follow the procedure of accepting the package, reading an acceptance form, and attempting to sign it before watching it poof into flames.


    ¡°What th¡ª¡± Before I could even finish my train of thought, or get a proper sentence out, Jaskrim picked up the package from my hands and opened it with razor-sharp precision. His giddy expression suggested he already knew what was in it. With a quick flap, he delicately held a blue uniform between his claws: pants in one hand, a long-sleeved shirt in the other.


    ¡°Look! It matches mine, human! Now you too can be protected from others!¡± Jaskrim spoke as he dragged his massive claws along the shirt, not even a single fiber moved. He quickly held them out in front of me to take, avoiding his claws making contact with me. ¡°Quick, quick, try them on!¡±


    <hr>


    Emerging from the back, the shirt and pants fit perfectly. What''s more, it felt like my temperature was being regulated.


    ¡°The sigils inscribed into the fabric can take a great deal of damage. In most instances, we¡¯ve retrieved the uniforms more than the carriers.¡± Jaskrim states as he pokes me in the chest with a singular claw. True to his word, the shirt didn¡¯t budge. I did, though, as he lightly pressed me against the wall. ¡°See? Not a scratch!¡±


    ¡°So, don¡¯t get hit by big objects, gotcha.¡± I stated. Despite virtually everything about Jaskrim¡¯s physical appearance, he really seemed like a kind hearted kid. If, the kid was a ten-foot-tall man-eating armored bear with claws that could cut through solid steel like butter, that was also probably several hundred years old.


    ¡°Alright, so let¡¯s get going! We¡¯re heading near my home, so it should be a rather quick trip.¡± Jaskrim spoke, as he turned around and pulled something out of his pocket and headed to an old doorframe hung up on the wall. ¡°Hey Mox Baku, can we borrow this?¡±


    ¡°Of course, a courier¡¯s job isn¡¯t to waste time.¡± The shop-keep spoke. I found it odd that these beings, who appeared wholly different from humanity, had names. However, now didn¡¯t seem the time to ask about that. In fact, over the last few weeks, many of the creatures I encountered had various honorifics and names, reminiscent of human society.


    Jaskrim held something over the doorframe, and a light breeze emanated from it. ¡°Hope you¡¯re fine with a bit of cold, I know you humans can be quite delicate.¡±


    The doorframe sprung to life, and an old wooden door appeared with a rusted knob. Jaskrim turned to me and handed over a rather peculiar looking long flat stone with runes carved into it, almost like a keycard. It even had a hole you could put something through to tie it with. ¡°This one¡¯s yours. Be sure to keep it safe, otherwise you can¡¯t come back if I¡¯m not here.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± I asked as he opened the door. A slow cold crept out, as he slowly ducked through. I was hesitant, but he waved me on from the other side.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t read about it in the handbook? It¡¯s a Transporters Rune. Fairly rare, and probably the second most valuable piece of equipment you own! They come down really hard if you lose it. That¡¯s why mine is bound to my necklace. I¡¯ve lost so many¡­¡± Jaskrim said, ending in a whisper I could barely hear. Walking through the once empty doorframe led to a decrepit log cabin. I glanced back, seeing the interior of the store we just left, just before the door closed itself with a solid ¡®thunk¡¯. ¡°No worries human, we can go back that way any time with these runestones.¡±


    ¡°W-where are we?¡± I asked, seeing heavy snow piles outside a nearby window. This was nothing like the calm and mostly warm climate of the Bastion of Eerie¡¯s Respite. Despite the feeling the cabin had long-since been abandoned, it felt well-traveled. Fresh candles were lit over in one corner, and the door Jaskrim was opening seemed in good condition.


    ¡°It¡¯s the humans¡¯ Lands Ice! Home of scrumptious fish! The locals are really nice compared to lots of places. Just stick close to me and you shouldn¡¯t have a problem.¡± Jaskrim spoke happily opening the door. A rush of even colder weather swept in, as fresh snow just started falling again. ¡°Quickly, let¡¯s not disturb the Residents more than we have to.¡±


    The Residents? Either way, I quickly made it out and closed the door behind me as a small ¡®thud¡¯ came from the other side of the door. Jaskrim had already started strolling through the foot deep snow and biting cold, clearing a massive path for me into an endless plateau of whiteness. It might be a casual stroll for Jaskrim, but between his massive strides and new terrain I definitely struggled with nearly every step. Hoping to distract him, I elected to ask questions to keep his attention focused on my pace and maybe slow down a little. ¡°Can you fill me in about this job more?¡±


    ¡°Mox Baku didn¡¯t fill you in? That¡¯s strange of them not to do that. They must be wanting to see how you do on your first job.¡± Jaskrim spoke looking back. He seemed to realize the difference between us and slowed his stride. ¡°We¡¯re dropping off a package to Mox Ydzlxmc Tqzdw, definitely a friendly one. We¡¯ll head to where they normally frequent.¡±


    ¡°Are they related to Mox Baku by any chance?¡± I asked, pondering the inhuman name Jaskrim spoke. It sounded ominous. Jaskrim lifted his head up and gave his head a few scritches, as if pondering the question.


    ¡°Probably not, I¡¯m pretty sure they¡¯re both from different regions entirely. Mox Baku is from a much more populated island, and I think Mox Staring Death is much more inland. They moved a while back though when they heard about all the food they have here, and low human influence. I was happy I could give them some good tips.¡± Jaskrim spoke happily. It seemed Mox was a form of title they called each other, probably something I should remember for the future. ¡°Mmm, think of it like calling someone Sir or Lady as a show of respect. Or how you refer to me, little Daegon.¡± A cold shiver ran up my spine at the thought. There was a lot I didn¡¯t know despite living for over thirty years in this world, and it seemed like I would never even begin to scratch the surface.


    We continued to walk for close to half an hour with the snow letting up half way through. Ending up on what could assumedly be a hiking path, the scenery around us instantly changed. It was, spring time? Flowers blossomed, and a wave of heat flushed over us. Jaskrim seemed to notice how I reacted to the spontaneous change.


    ¡°Don¡¯t remove your uniform, and stay close human. We¡¯ve entered the first area of one of the Dominions.¡± Jaskrim said as he continued walking forward, but began to glance back now and then to keep an eye on me. ¡°It doesn¡¯t see much use now, but this is one of the many feeding grounds. It might trick your senses, but it¡¯s still winter and you will succumb to the cold here.¡±


    ¡°This is otherworldly¡­¡± I said quietly, looking about. Forest animals could be seen frolicking in the distance, paying no heed to either of us as we continued our walk. Despite what Jaskrim said, it definitely felt much easier to walk now. ¡°I-, well, we¡¯re not at risk of being attacked here?¡±


    ¡°Sure we are human, we¡¯re visitors just like anyone else. But, how does your kind say it about death and messages?¡± Jaskrim asked, still glancing back from time to time.


    ¡°Death and messages?¡± I said aloud, pondering. Without realizing it a tired voice sprung from out of me, <u>¡°Don¡¯t shoot the messenger.¡±</u>


    ¡°Yeah, that human! Don¡¯t shoot the messenger. So long as we stick to minding our own business, and don¡¯t interfere with our clients, they will normally leave us alone. That doesn¡¯t stop most from propositioning us though, so be very careful. The CDS won¡¯t send anyone for us if we did it to ourselves.¡± Jaskrim stated as he quickly made a left. A large wrought iron gate appeared before him, as he glanced over it before turning back to me. ¡°I¡¯m going to need you to walk next to me during this next part.¡±


    ¡°O-ohkay.¡± I spoke, sensing a bit more of a concerned tone in his voice. He nodded and reached into his uniform pulling out a necklace. It began to glow for a moment before the gates opened. Quickly making my way up next to him, I looked about to see if anything was amiss. It seemed all those forest animals in the distance were watching us now. Just far away enough to not warrant suspicion, but enough to make me feel very uneasy. I looked up at Jaskrim, ¡°How did you know to turn where you did?¡±


    ¡°Oh, Dominions have a lot of tells. I grew up around this one when there was more prey. The birds stopped chirping and were flying in this direction, so I knew we were close. No matter how many times this area changes, it seems like the tell is always the same. Outsiders easily get lost in these, making them easy targets. Especially if they stumble into the wrong area.¡± Jaskrim spoke, it felt he was trying hard to keep his speech simple. Or, maybe, in a language I understood. ¡°This room in particular is really tame, unless you¡¯re¡­ human¡­¡±


    Jaskrim¡¯s words faded quickly as he glanced over at me. His eyes were a striking blue, with bits of green. He looked me over skeptically, ensuring I hadn''t lost an appendage or was about to burst into flames. ¡°Don¡¯t stare too much at the others. If they know you can see them, they¡¯re more likely to act. Even if they make sounds keep your eyes on me or the road.¡±


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°The road?¡± I asked looking down, realizing the path turned into one of those stone block roads. The chatter of things around us grew stronger, and sounded very human. Jaskrim¡¯s advice bore into my mind, and I kept my sight glued down mostly. A haze began to fill the back of my mind, and it seemed like my senses began to sharpen.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry human, we¡¯re nearly there. If it helps, you could always think back on good memories. I find it helps sometimes in these deeper sections to focus on something you really like, like fish, or the ways you can cook them. You can even talk out loud about it.¡± Jaskrim stated, as he carefully placed a massive paw on my back. The roar of the street became louder, and louder.


    ¡°Why do you like fish so much Jaskrim? If you talk maybe I can focus on that a bit easier.¡± I shouted, trying to voice over the anarchy around me. I began to hear the very rustling of our clothes, the fibers of my muscles with every step, and the chatter around us became a blazing uproar.


    ¡°Sure human! Why they¡¯re so sweet and delicious. They fight and wiggle, and there¡¯s so many ways to cook them. Every bit of a fish has a use, and it¡¯s so tender. You can eat it raw, or you can cook it! They have just enough crunch to keep it interesting. Plus, there¡¯s so many! Its like a better human, and they also come in so many shapes and sizes and I don¡¯t get in trouble for eating lots¡­¡± Despite Jaskrim¡¯s unique sound in a world of hypersensitivity, I felt it quickly became drowned out by static blur of everything around me. The world became me, and I became the world. Every fabric of reality became blistering aware in my senses, as I felt gravity on an unspeakable level. I could feel my nerves fire off as I shut my eyes, the squeezing and releasing of my muscles as I covered my ears. A million-billion hairs brushed up against me, and the gale of a hurricane rushed over my body in a never-ending skin rupturing orchestra, before falling to the ground on a tirade of microscopic scalpels scraping on my skin, eternity passed.


    Silence¡­ Peace¡­ Serenity¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry human, normally I¡¯m through that room much quicker so it doesn¡¯t build up so much. I kind of tossed you through, are you okay?¡± I heard Jaskrim¡¯s voice in a much quieter tone. Slowly opening my eyes, a massive paw covered most of my body, as though trying to protect me from anything else. I felt tense, sore, as though I had just endured the workout of a lifetime.


    ¡°Y-yeah¡­ I should be fine¡­¡± I sat up slowly, both hands on my head still. A ringing held true, but I was returning to normal.


    ¡°If you need time, we can wait a moment. The client will be considerate enough if we¡¯re only a little late.¡± Jaskrim said, as he slowly sat down next to me. That¡¯s right, we¡¯re on the job. I¡¯m here to complete a delivery. He kept his paw close to me, as if I was going to fly into it at any second.


    ¡°N-no, we¡¯re requested. I-I can move. Let¡¯s get going.¡± I said, taking a knee. My entire body felt heavy after that ordeal. Regardless, I pushed off my knee and rose up, Jaskrim still taller than me despite sitting. ¡°W-we can get going. Not much further now, right?¡±


    ¡°True, just that last room right there.¡± Jaskrim said pointing in front of me. He reached into his uniform and pulled out the package, showing the runes slowly pulsating. ¡°You hold onto this. It¡¯ll make the situation a bit clearer as well for the client.¡±


    ¡°S-speaking of¡­¡± I began, taking the package and holding it under my arms. ¡°Do you know why this was a special request?¡±


    ¡°Oh, sure. Some clients have preferred delivery carriers. Mox probably requested me since I suggested them moving in here.¡± Jaskrim said standing up. ¡°Oh, try not to stare too long at the Mox¡¯s eyes. I think that¡¯s how they used to capture humans. It¡¯s not a voluntary thing, humans just can¡¯t understand what they¡¯re looking at and freeze up.¡± Jaskrim stated. It seemed he was still a bit worried about me, but no longer kept his full attention focused on it.


    ¡°N-noted.¡± I said as we began to walk again, quicker than I originally had. The road and our surroundings had vanished, swallowed by an obscuring void. Despite that, both of us had an eerie illumination that enveloped us just enough to keep the darkness from being disorienting. Jaskrim filled me in that each area is roughly ten minutes of walking if you¡¯re on the right path, though we were closer to twenty with me here. He also informed me how these Dominions changed over time. New denizens in Dominions seem to give it more characteristics, and how many creatures called it home means they generally constantly shift and meld themselves into new areas. Ironically, they felt like apartments for the supernatural.


    <hr>


    ¡°Here we are!¡± Jaskrim stated in a giddy tone, pushing on a blank wall with his necklace again. The area that unfolded before us was that of a moonlit graveyard. It was, quite beautiful. Not one of those Zombies and Ghouls or Vampire-stalked graveyards, with the feel of desiccation and despair. But, a beautiful garden of dark respectable flowers, hedges, low-caste stone walls with a quaint hut overlooking it all.


    A well-swept stone path guided us up around the graves and to the hut. Names and dates I can¡¯t remember despite looking at them moments ago decorated the graves. Gifts, neatly arranged, laid on each. There were even people visiting some of them, or so I thought. Just like the graves, the thoughts of any being near them faded away as a solemn memory. As we made it up to the hut¡¯s door, Jaskrim lightly knocked with two of his claws. After a moment, the door vanished, and several blazing eyes looked at us. My head began to swirl, but Jaskrim covered my face with a giant paw preventing the worst of it. I elected to close my eyes despite his quick-thinking actions.


    ¡°Qogkyq nq Njo Ydzlxmc Tqzdw, nq zmt dwxy wknzm wqlq wzfq z ybqgxzr tqrxfqls vjl sjk. Gzm hq wzfq z njnqmd jv sjkl dxnq?¡±Jaskrim spoke in what seemed to be a different incomprehensible language than before.


    ¡°Wknzm? Tqrxfqls? Sjk wzfq dwq pqyd jv ajeqy, Yeqrazyelxnyrx.¡± Sharp, vibrating chatter erupted from the doorframe.


    ¡°No jokes, Mox, a human has your delivery.¡± Jaskrim stated, I could tell he moved his hand out from in front of me.


    ¡°A-apologies for the delay, Sir, uh, sorry, Mox. May we get a signature for this package of yours?¡± I stuttered, holding out the package. It felt warm in my hands, and I could tell the runes were pulsating quicker. I was never a good people person to start with, adding supernatural killing machines on top of the mix only felt natural to completely fail at speaking.


    ¡°Ooooh, no joke indee-eeeeed.¡± The thing in the door chattered. I felt a whirl of wind suck both Jaskrim and I forward before the sound of a door closing was heard behind us. ¡°Tell me hu-uuman, what is your name?¡±


    The sound of fire crackling to life filled the air around me as I peeked an eye open. A wooden table with stools were set before me. A figure of sorts was drinking from a pristine white tea cup. I avoided any semblance of what might be their eyes or face.


    ¡°Oh, this one is Days gone. Oh, uh, Da¡­ Uh, Dae-gon. Yeah. Daegon. He was just hired and is my partner today.¡± Jaskrim stepped in and sat at the table. ¡°Mox is being very polite and limited their own sight for you Daegon, you can come and sit down with us.¡±


    I slowly opened my other eye; it was a rather nice small and comforting place that surrounded us. Turning my attention back to the matter at hand, I looked over at Jaskrim and the stool he nodded to. The stools, comedically small even for a human, were undoubtably unfit for a creature of my companion''s size. Yet, Jaskrim sat there just fine. So I quickly sat down next to him placing the package on the table. As I did, blue flames erupted from above it as a floating paper appeared facing the strange creature before me.


    ¡°Have you liked your move?¡± Jaskrim asked as the paper flew over and landed in front of the creature. The two of them seemed to happily chatter, but my nerves began to grow. Despite my apprehension I tried to focus on the being before me. The creature was covered in feathers and clutching its cup with pitch-black talons. It was rather hard to make out the amorphous form that seemed to feel like that of a Raven¡­ And, a skull? As if learning the secret of a magic trick, the curtain of mystery dissipated from the creature, revealing its massive size. While not as massive as Jaskrim, it dwarfed any human I could think of. The midnight feathers reminiscent of darkest nights cloaked the body, keeping safe unsuspecting gazes that might find what¡¯s below. Atop the creature''s form, a perfect avian-like skull embellished a shadowy abyss in place of its head, oozing from the crevices and gently enshrouding the skull. It seemed Jaskrim and Mox¡¯s pleasant conversation was in full swing as my mind fixated on something in the skull. An old, deep red eye hid itself inside. Its gaze shifting between Jaskrim and the paper.


    ¡°If only given an instant, one could confuse you for a sleepless dragon¡­¡± I said involuntarily. Confused, perplexed, I shook my head and looked over at Jaskrim who stared back with their mouth slightly open. A chitter, a chatter, that sound of a flatter, erupted into a melodious laughter.


    ¡°Human indee-eed! Hack! You must bring this one ba-ack. If their mind is one such as this.¡± The creature spoke between their chatter of approval. It calmed down after a few seconds. ¡°Please advert your gaze, human. You shouldn¡¯t lose yourself in one such as I.¡±


    ¡°S-sorry!¡± I spoke lowering my head and closing my eyes again. Unknown customs and dangers within every creature, I need to be much more careful. ¡°Much, much more careful. Let a girl have her beauty sleep.¡± A massive paw hit me on the back causing me to straighten up and be pushed into the table.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry human, they¡¯re probably the best starter client for you.¡± Jaskrim said with a light-laugh as well. Both Jaskrim and the creature let out a bit more laughter as I opened my eyes again. The creature gave a light wave with a talon, though I tried to keep my gaze away from their face.


    ¡°A-apologies Mox.¡± I said with a nervous chuckle. Despite the entirety of the situation, it really felt this was a group of friends catching up after a long time apart. ¡°M-may I ask your name?¡±


    The creature froze, it seemed. Was my question out of line?


    ¡°Na-aame? Ooh, human tongued, human meaning. Help! Save me! Beast! Demon! Called mostly. Maybe, you help? Ooh. Allow to look, yes. Only for moment, save your mind. You can give name. Think on it.¡± The creature spoke, chattering about. It caught me a bit off guard, but it seemed the creature struggled with articulation when it came to longer thought processes. That didn¡¯t stop my concern with what it was implying though as I looked over to Jaskrim with concern.


    ¡°It¡¯s your choice. It¡¯ll be like when you spoke earlier, I think. Mox couldn¡¯t lie to you, so you can choose.¡± Jaskrim said, as he hooked a comically small teacup on the very edge of his claw and up to his mouth. I think I began to sweat, so many thoughts racing through my mind. ¡°Fight or flight.¡± I sighed, looking down at the table. I could hear the creature and its light chatter and ruffling of feathers.


    ¡°Alri¡­¡± Before I could even finish, as I glanced up, I was met with the gaze of ¨C Dwjkyzmty jv kmlqrqmdxmc qsqy, czuxmc pqsjmt dwq nxmt, pjts, zmt yjkr. Gqmdklxqy jv djlnqmd rqvd dxlqt zm xmdqrrxcqmd pqxmc sqzlmxmc vjl yxnbrql dxnqy. Sqzlmxmc, txlqgd, gjmmqgdxjm, ikxqd, rxvq. Bzldmql...


    ¡°Death, not despair. Staring into the countless, uneasy, but not uncommon. Calming¡­ Stare upon the Calmness of Death. Deaths Gaze. Staring Death¡­¡± I spoke, as a heavy blackness clouded my vision, and head. Before I knew it, the world around me popped back into frame. The thing before was sipping its drink from the teacup again.


    ¡°Many tho-ooughts, human. Death prominent, ye-ees? Staring deaths, for many eyes. Mox Staring Deaths acceptable.¡± Mox Staring Death chattered in applause. Jaskrim gave light claps of approval.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to be very popular human, I can tell. Many of us struggle with finding names we like, no matter how many times we think of things ourselves. Centuries even, we¡¯ll go without such, or change often, so often we just go back to what humans call us. There¡¯s been a new thing going about where some of us are distinguishing ourselves, so you might make a few good deals for that talent.¡± Jaskrim said ecstatically.


    It wasn¡¯t much longer until Jaskrim and Staring Death finished up their conversation, filled out the remaining paperwork, and we all stood up for final farewells. Much to my blissful surprise, Staring Death had a doorway for us to use to get back quicker. With their final goodbyes, we were whisked through back to the cold outdoors. Jaskrim and I began our trek back through the snow to the cabin. Thankfully, we quickly found our old path and made our way back down it. Jaskrim was a bit quiet while we walked, as if something was bothering him.


    ¡°Human, I want to apologize.¡± He spoke, with a bit heavy of a voice.


    ¡°What for, big guy? You saved my life earlier.¡± I said, wondering what he could have done to feel this way.


    ¡°It was a few things honestly. I shouldn¡¯t have made reference to you and fish. Same with going down that path through the Dominion, we could have taken a slightly longer route that would have been safer for you. Or that Mox couldn¡¯t offer you anything to drink. I just forgot you were human is all.¡± Jaskrim spoke with a somber tone. He slowed his stride slightly.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry. You did save me in there anyways. I couldn¡¯t have done that alone, you know. If anything, I should be apologizing for you. I slowed you down and made this a lot harder, didn¡¯t I?¡± I said quickly, catching up to his side and patting his arm.


    ¡°No human, you did great! We always have partners in these situations, so at least one of us can survive. Besides, you said you wanted me to talk more. Most partners don¡¯t like me talking so much. I was so happy, I forgot you were struggling to get through.¡± Jaskrim had a certain fervor in his voice. I could tell that arguing over this point would prove futile.


    ¡°Alright, alright. How about this, I¡¯ll think of something you can do and we can call it even in the future, nothing too big okay? is that fair?¡± Honestly, my plan was to forget that entirely. I don¡¯t know how I could handle holding something I didn¡¯t feel I was owed over a co-worker¡¯s head.


    ¡°Alright, deal! I¡¯m sure to make it up to you then!¡± Jaskrim said proudly holding his head high. He really was a good guy. Though I was curious about what he meant by the fish comment, or the drinks¡­


    <hr>


    ¡°Jobs done!¡± Jaskrim said busting through the door, as the sound echoed throughout the shop. A cold breeze followed us in as I closed the door behind us. I blinked and the door vanished as if never existing in the first place. I was exhausted, both physically and mentally, more than I ever thought possible. I honestly didn¡¯t know if I had the strength to make it home. ¡°I¡¯ll be on my way now, be safe Mox Daegon!¡± Jaskrim said as he headed for the front door.


    ¡°One job, and respect? Impressive Rjszr Bzdljm, or should I say, Mox Daegon.¡± Baku cooed, with what I assumed to be a laugh in the roughest of growls.


    ¡°D-do I need to do anything else? I¡¯m quite exhausted.¡± I asked as a wave of lethargy rushed over me.


    ¡°No more. Do come again soon though.¡± Baku stated with a hand waving me off. I turned to say something to Jaskrim, but the front door just closed and he was¡­ Gone?


    ¡°Where did he¡­?¡± I was about to ask before Baku let out a lower growl.


    ¡°Home, like you¡¯re about to. Talisman onto the socket next to door. Don¡¯t use it outside of normal means, we will know human.¡± Baku stated pointing to a small hole I never noticed before. It seemed to have a purple glow. I was honestly too tired to ask more questions and followed his instructions. As I put my rune to the hole, a vibrating pulse shot through me and I looked back. ¡°Go now, more clients wait.¡±


    Home. It was definitely my house. The door behind me closed, and all the metal bars were already closed. I let out a rather heavy sigh and reached for my phone. Looking at the lock screen, I swore it must have been some type of sick joke. From the time I walked into that shop, only an hour had passed. Stuffing it back in my pocket, I flicked on the light switch and looked to my right.


    ¡°I gotta patch that up eventually¡­¡± I thought, looking at the me-sized hole on the wall and dried blood stains that led to today. Despite the visceral fear and anguish, it honestly felt like a dream. It felt¡­ Unreal¡­ Even as my hand touched it, it¡¯s like my mind wouldn¡¯t allow me to grasp the reality.


    ¡°But it was very much real, Daegon.¡±


    Never had such a kid¡¯s voice caused such an adverse reaction in me. An unshakable truth did in fact happen that day. ¡°This observer has returned. Guess you can¡¯t ignore this new reality anymore, now can you little Daegon?¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s one of the reasons I¡¯m here. Perhaps you can fill me in on your first day?¡±


    I looked over to see a teenage boy, laying on my couch with my phone that should have been in my pocket. His white hair glistened with the lights from the game he was playing.

 3-Downtime in Eerie鈥檚 Respite

    3-Downtime in Eerie¡¯s Respite


    -Three days later, July 29<sup>th</sup>, 5:35PM


    The exchange rate provided by the Cryptid Delivery Services was surprisingly generous when brought into human currency. It was definitely stable income for what could be little-to-no work, despite the very obvious dangers that came with the job. So generous, that I could give up foraging outside the walls all together, though that felt unlikely as I really enjoyed that time. There was a problem though, and that was to figure out how to occupy all the newfound free time allotted to myself.


    I could spend days, or even weeks in the wilderness outside the Bastion of Eerie¡¯s Respite. Always being on the fringe of Society, being virtually independent of the quarrels that plagued the cozily nestled inhabitants within made me feel like a bit of an oddball. With a world being rebuilt on clarity and transparency, my unorthodox lifestyle would probably be seen with skepticism. Even if my mostly solitary lifestyle with nature was a rather unique one within the walls, there was a part of me that wanted to reach out and see if I was able to connect regardless.


    With the week¡¯s duties fulfilled and no immediate obligations, I saw an opportunity to immerse myself in new experiences. Perhaps, even make connections with other inhabitants. Sculpting my own niche inside the Bastion seemed like its own fantasy, but not without reason.


    Those thoughts kept my mind busy, until I glanced back down at my phone as time slipped away. A wistful sigh left me, recognizing my plans might have actually been vain. I pocketed my phone, wondering if I should give up-


    ¡°Hey! Sorry I¡¯m late. The bus system sucks, you know?¡± a cheery voice said approaching at a light jog. ¡°Daegon, right?¡± ¡°This is going to get boring; I¡¯m going back to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Luna?¡± I asked, feeling a flush of embarrassment rising as my voice wavered. I noticed how her youthful features contradicted her claimed age, and her attractiveness was undeniable. A nagging suspicion lingered in my mind, wondering if this encounter was some sort of trap or if someone entirely unexpected would appear instead. Yet, there she was, standing before me with a mischievous glimmer in her eyes and a delicate scent of jasmine lingering around her.


    "That''s me. You''re taller than I thought and definitely cuter. You need to work on your photo game." Luna smirked teasingly, her tone playful as a warm breeze. "Come on. I have friends waiting inside. They''ve been sending me pictures of you for, like, the last five minutes."


    We stepped into the cozy family diner, where the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries mingled with the low hum of conversation. Two women waved us over to a round table.


    ¡°This here¡¯s Carna and Sadi. Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯ll be leaving soon.¡± Luna announced, her voice laced with hinting notions.


    "Oh, come on now. You know how creeps are nowadays. We had to make sure our girl was safe.¡± Carna retorted, her tone brisk and protective as she flashed a confident smile. Tall and athletic, she wore a snug track jacket and had her hair tied up¡ªa perplexing blend of dark red and orange that caught the light with every movement.


    ¡°Besides, how¡¯d a bum like you land such a cute little chew toy? What dark baggage are you carrying? Broke? No college? Maybe you¡¯re a serial killer?¡± Sadi, with her curly brown hair bouncing at every accusation, appeared to revel in getting under Luna¡¯s skin, yet there was sincerity in the way she always looked out for her friend.


    ¡°I¡­ am so sorry for these knuckleheads.¡± Luna said apologetically, appearing a bit flustered and genuinely ashamed.


    ¡°No, no, it¡¯s reasonable. It¡¯s definitely hard to trust things nowadays.¡± I interjected, scratching my head as I tried to diffuse the tension. My palms felt clammy as I continued, "Uh, Sadi, I''d probably say that I have a hard time making connections. I don''t, uh, people well."


    ¡°Ooh, so you ARE a serial k¡ª¡± Sadi¡¯s words were abruptly cut off by Carna, who did something under the table to make her friend silently scream in pain.


    ¡°Alright, I think we¡¯ve made things awkward enough. Come on, Sadi... Enjoy your date, ladies.¡± Carna said with a brisk smile before walking off with Sadi, their bickering trailing behind them as they left.


    ¡°I promise, they aren¡¯t normally this¡­ dumb. They¡¯re really sweet, and I¡¯ve known them forever.¡± Luna said softly, her voice gentle despite the earlier chaos. Her eyes shone with warmth, and the ambient clatter of the diner faded into a comforting murmur around us.


    ¡°No, really, I get it. Honestly, the fear of a creep goes both ways¡­ You couldn¡¯t imagine the worry I had about some guy doing this for thrills.¡± I said with a light chuckle. Luna¡¯s face scrunched as she tried to hold back a grin before bursting out laughing.


    ¡°You say the funniest things. Even though we both sent videos, you thought I might still be a dude?¡± Luna spoke, regaining most of her composure. She had to brush her golden, blonde hair out from her face. It wasn¡¯t until then that I noticed her eyes had the most peculiar tint of green, with what looked like a fleck of red as well.


    <hr>


    Our ¡®date¡¯ extended for several hours at the diner as we delved into fragments of our past. Luna appeared particularly intrigued by my expeditions outside of Eerie¡¯s Respite. Not many people venture out, let alone return, so our conversation naturally gravitated toward that topic. Even after leaving at a reasonable hour, we found ourselves lingering at her bus station for another twenty minutes. The chill night air mingled with the soft hum of distant traffic, yet there was no sign of her ride.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to ask this, but do you think you could maybe take me home?¡± Luna said, glancing at her phone with a hint of frustration in her eyes. ¡°Sadi and Carna aren¡¯t responding, so I can only imagine what kind of shenanigans they¡¯re getting into.¡±


    ¡°Uh, I walked here¡­ I could, uh, walk you home if you want.¡± I offered, feeling a bit sheepish as my cheeks warmed with embarrassment. Luna paused, looking up from her phone as the cool breeze brushed against our faces.


    ¡°Rrright, because you¡¯re normally out and about after curfew, so no use for a car¡­ Well, okay. It¡¯s not too far of a walk.¡± Luna pulled up a map on her phone, the screen¡¯s glow highlighting a route about twenty minutes away. ¡°Will you be able to find your way back?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know this area pretty well. Although¡­ we might want to avoid this route. It¡¯s not the friendliest neighborhood.¡± I pointed out, gesturing toward a major road where the path veered into a less inviting section of town.


    ¡°Oh, what if we cut through here then?¡± Luna suggested, stepping a bit closer. My gaze shifted from the phone to her, and I caught a soft whiff of incense mixed with the night air¡ªa scent that trailed her wherever she went.


    "S-sure." I replied somewhat impulsively. Luna glanced up at me, a slight blush coloring her cheeks as if realizing the unintended implications of my agreement.


    <hr>


    ¡°You know, you¡¯re a bit too old-school for this app. It¡¯s not a bad thing, but¡­¡± she said as we turned down a quiet side street and paused beneath a flickering streetlamp. Her phone rang, the ringtone echoing in the cool silence.


    ¡°Sadi, it¡¯s about time! No no, we¡¯re fine. He¡¯s walking me home. Yes, I know curfew! We¡¯re almost home anyways. No, you¡¯re not picking me up. We¡¯re like 5 minutes out. Yes, I¡¯ll call you when I¡¯m home. Ugh, really? No, I¡¯m not saying it.¡± Luna said in an annoyed tone before glancing at me. I took it as my queue to step back a few and turn around. She began to whisper, ¡°Cucumber Salad.¡±


    Laughter erupted from the phone as she hung up. ¡°Codeword?¡± I asked aloud. It was the only logical thing I could think of, like when a spy is in trouble.


    ¡°Ugh, yes. She said you might have kidnapped me so I had to tell her.¡± Luna replied, a mix of irritation and affection in her tone.


    ¡°She really does care for you.¡± I said turning around and walking up to her. ¡°I see why you trust her so much.¡±


    Luna''s cheeks flushed with embarrassment before she walked off again, leaving me to play catch-up. ¡°You¡¯re right, she¡¯d practically do anything for me¡­ I just wish she was a bit more restrained in that regard.¡± she confided, letting out a soft sigh as the distant hum of the city filled the quiet space between us. ¡°Speaking of restrained, you come off as way too mild-mannered for a Hunter. Do you even know what you¡¯re doing?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± I asked, feeling a bit bewildered. Luna turned around to look at me again, her expression shifting. Her eyes appeared to be a deeper shade of red and green than before. ¡°I''m sorry, I think I''m the one who''s confused here.¡±


    As Luna approached closer, a slight shiver ran down my spine once again. Her expression shifted from seriousness to an almost apologetic softness. Before I could fully process it, movement caught my attention from the corner of my eye. Two figures emerged from my left side as if materializing out of thin air.


    ¡°No, no no no. No fucking way.¡± a familiar, deeply resonant voice echoed out, reminiscent of that fateful night. ¡°Fight, or flight.¡±


    I froze. Terror rooted me to the spot. My mind went blank as I slowly turned my head to see an out-of-breath Carna and... "Zylas..."


    ¡°Wait!¡± Zylas, the Lady of the Beasts who had killed me in my own home, who had pierced my shoulder and shattered my bones, yelled out as I sprinted in the opposite direction of the group, consumed by blind, raw terror. ¡°You idiot, I said wait!¡±


    In a desperate scramble for my life, I careened down several streets at breakneck speed. The sound of my pounding footsteps blended with the distant, disembodied echoes of my own ragged breaths. I stole desperate glances over my shoulder, but nothing¡ªno shape or sound¡ªfollowed my frantic flight. I jumped over fences and used my hands to steady myself around sharp corners. The world became a blur of dark pavement and fleeting neon lights. All I knew was that if I stopped even for a second, I¡¯d be trapped in that nightmare once again.


    I couldn¡¯t gauge how far or how long I ran. Eventually, I found myself behind a flashy, unusually lively building for this time of night. The air here was thick with the stench of spilled alcohol and stale smoke. Exhausted beyond measure, I scaled one final gate and collapsed into the garbage area behind the building. My body heaved with exertion, and my muscles throbbed with an intense, fiery ache. Even as I sat down, my legs trembled, threatening to give out at any moment. Several minutes of deep, labored breaths passed before I dared to open my eyes and move my arms. The hour was late¡ªpainfully so. I knew I needed to gather myself, figure out where I was, and decide my next move.


    "Almost¡­ midnight¡­ You¡¯re telling me I ran¡­ for¡­" I spoke aloud, my voice strained with disbelief at the physical toll.


    ¡°Three fucking hours, are you done now? Because I¡¯m just as pissed off as you are pissing yourself.¡± That visceral voice cut through the night air. I glanced upward. There, perched on the fence gate above me, was Zylas. She didn¡¯t even spare me a glance, as if I were a trivial annoyance. She sat smoking, taking long, deliberate drags from a fresh cigarette, the ember glowing in the dim light.


    ¡°Fffffuck me¡­¡± the words slipped from my lips in utter disbelief. Panic still roiled within me, and despite the urgency, my legs remained stubbornly immobile, refusing to obey any commands.


    ¡°Listen, if that fixed this I would have tried earlier.¡± Zylas spoke with clear frustration as she took another drag and finished her cigarette. She exhaled slowly, and an ethereal shroud of smoke blanketed the air above me. A few stray embers danced downward, landing on my feverish skin with a strangely soothing warmth. My thoughts were a tangled mess, devoid of any clear direction. There was no lifeline to grasp, no miracle escape.


    With a graceful leap, Zylas hopped down from her perch and landed a few steps in front of me. Turning to face me, her gaze sent a cold shiver down my spine. She squatted to meet me at eye level and spoke with a firmness that demanded my full attention. "Before you pass out, just listen. Tonight was a mistake. She didn¡¯t know who you were, and even if she did, she wouldn¡¯t have laid a finger on you. Once Carna told me what was happening, I rushed over to make sure you weren¡¯t a late-night snack for the other Contractors prowling the area."


    ¡°Carna? O-others¡­?¡± I repeated in disbelief. My mind was clouded by the gravity of her presence, my heart pounding rapidly. I couldn¡¯t tear my gaze away from the lethal implements in her hands¡ªwhether twiddling a new cigarette or the vorpal blades hidden in the curve of her jaw, each threatened to promise my demise.


    ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re fucking helpless. Okay, how about this.¡± Zylas spat with frustration, as she pulled out some type of knife and sliced her thumb. She drew precise runes in an intricate pattern on the side of the dumpster with astounding accuracy. After muttering something incomprehensible to human ears, a contract materialized from azure flames in front of me.


    ¡°This is a contract.¡± She spoke tersely, with authority and clarity. ¡°I promise no harm shall befall you for the next 48 hours, from external forces or myself, within reasonable consideration. If you jump off a bridge, or intentionally fuck the wrong whore, that¡¯s on you. Everything I say will be true and factual. In return, you come to your senses and hear me out within that time. We talk, you listen. Do you accept?¡±


    ¡°Do I have a choice?¡± I said, unable to take my eyes off the absolute unit of visceral human carnage before me, despite the contract doing its best to draw my attention to it. Zylas let out a deep, rumbling sigh, frustration etched into every line of her formidable frame.


    ¡°Yes, you do.¡± she retorted sharply. ¡°You can¡¯t force someone into one of these contracts, even subliminally or subconsciously. This is literally one of the highest forms of deals. Even if you do decline, you know I couldn¡¯t do anything to you. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve had that explained to you. This is really a one-sided contract I¡¯m offering. You¡¯d be a fucking moron not to accept this.¡± She said with venom planted in every word. ¡°We shou¡ª¡± ¡°Oh and don¡¯t let the bitch sway your thoughts. You won¡¯t be able to sign if you¡¯ve been swayed in any manner, even your own parties. This is just you and me.¡±


    The contract before me fluttered slightly, its words echoing Zylas¡¯ speech verbatim. As I glanced between the contract and her, a sense of apprehension swept over me. The dread of being tethered to her for even a moment filled me with terror, even in such a protective contract. I attempted to muster my strength this entire time, just enough for a hasty retreat, but my body remained stubbornly immobile. I ran my body to the brink, and this was the consequence of such an act. Out of options, I resigned myself to this outcome with a exhausted sigh. The contract, as if aware of my intent, scribed itself with my signature before dematerializing in a puff of azure flames.


    Simultaneously, intricate runes began to dance across the back of Zylas¡¯ hand. Their colors swirled in a mesmerizing display before settling into a deep, ominous black. It was as if the very essence of our agreement had been etched into her skin¡ªa silent testament to the binding nature of our pact.


    ¡°Huh¡­ No shit, you actually bit¡­ Color me impressed again, I didn¡¯t think you had balls enough to sign an infernal contract.¡± Zylas remarked with a hint of amusement. ¡°I was kind of looking forward to dragging your ass back by your legs.¡± With a quick flick of her wrist, she lit another cigarette. Taking a long drag, she exhaled a dense cloud of smoke directly into my face. She chuckled at my discomfort, a devilish glint flickering in her eyes as she flicked the finished bud away. ¡°Well, you¡¯re not allergic to smoke so I think it¡¯s safe enough to bring you inside then.¡±


    ¡°I-inside? Where are you taking me?¡± I asked, coughing through the smoke. Zylas reached down as I flinched instinctively. The rune on her hand flared up emitting a faint white glow as if reacting to my fear. She paused and glared at her hand; her expression unreadable. The runes slowly dimmed, before returning to a dormant state.


    ¡°Look, you¡¯re gonna have to trust me to carry you. You¡¯re not moving on your own.¡± She stated, her voice trying to hide her impatience. I gave a half-hearted nod and closed my eyes, bracing for whatever came next. Another audible sigh escaped her lips, filled with annoyance, before I felt an odd sensation of weightlessness. Then, suddenly, I felt her weight pressing against me. ¡°Aaand up you go. Oh, good. You didn¡¯t actually piss yourself.¡±


    My eyes snapped open as I felt myself being lifted off the ground, desperately trying to cling to anything for balance. In the blink of an eye, we were on the rooftop of the building I was hiding behind. Zylas had secured me on her back, her arms wrapped firmly around my legs to prevent any chance of me falling. Despite being on her back, my head barely reached her own. As hard as I was clinging on with my arms around her sides, I was very likely-


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s an accident. That doesn¡¯t count. Just lock around my neck at least when you realize it. Really would prefer if you just strangled me instead of having to deal with this, though. Not that you could.¡± Zylas spoke with a rather passive, condescending tone. Feeling a sudden squishiness, my mind blanked and I hastily retracted my hands intertwining my arms around her neck as she lifted me slightly higher. I started bracing myself for the inevitable demise at the end of these 48 hours. Zylas looked down, and I could feel the eye roll accompanying her grumbling. ¡°Aaand there it is¡­ So, we have two options. I can sit you down, fix my shirt myself, and then pick you up again, or you can reach back around and pull it down before you flipped it up exposing me to the world.¡±


    ¡°W-what did I..?¡± I stammered, dumbfounded by her sudden demand. Before I could even process her words she let out a low guttural snarl.


    ¡°JUST PULL THE FUCKING SHIRT DOWN!¡± she roared, her voice echoing across the night. With a surge of primal fear of my short-lived existence flaring up once more, I reached around and found the ruffled shirt. Pulling it back down with a sharp tug, I was sure to keep my eyes closed the entire time. Once that was complete, I returned my arms around her neck feeling a mixture of embarrassment and relief wash over me. ¡°It¡¯d be easier if you- fuck it, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯m taking you to the Den. Yes, you¡¯re safe. Everyone knows not to touch you. You¡¯ll be pestered to death before they even so much as raise a claw to you.¡±


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    <hr>


    ¡°She must really like you, I bet you¡¯re like a secret crush.¡± A scantily clad female werewolf lay before me on her phone. Her tone was teasing yet edged with mischief. ¡°She¡¯s never brought, uh, a hu-uuuu-andsome man back. Much less made a contract.¡±


    ¡°I think, uh, it¡¯s very much the exact opposite of like, as to why she did¡­¡± I responded, my raspy voice and sweat beading on my forehead. I sat in one of those transition rooms in what felt like an ancient mansion¡ªan area repurposed as a makeshift sleeping zone. Curtains graced both doorways, and two oversized mattresses flanked the walls. I was relegated to a solitary chair in the corner, while several creatures ambled by, casting curious glances. Their calm, friendly demeanors belied the reality that I was deep in their territory¡ªa fragile haven for a human in a predatory world. Four beings inhabited this room: a nearly dragon-like, scaled creature without a tail passed out on the far bed; a furred creature in a similar state rested nearby; and the werewolf lady before me, who had offered no name¡ªsimply instructing me to call her ¡°whatever.¡± Despite her nonchalant attitude, it was clear she kept a vigilant watch over me.


    ¡°Ooh, maybe this human forced her into a contract? What do you think Valia?¡± A diminutive, aquatic-tinged scaled being chimed in as it slithered into the room and settled next to the werewolf.


    ¡°Both of you stop pestering him. We made a mistake so we¡¯re repaying it in kind. A lesson you both should learn.¡± A slightly familiar voice interjected. ¡°Also, go get him food. Actual human food since we don¡¯t know when Zylas will be back. Or else I¡¯m getting Zylas to revoke your share.¡±


    ¡°Ugh. Yes, Lady Bitch.¡± The werewolf quipped before rolling over onto her back. She eyed me for a few moments before slightly sticking her tongue out and pulling her loose shirt down slightly, exposing a lot more than just fur. ¡°If you ever feel lu¡ª¡±


    ¡°I SAID GO GET HIM FOOD!¡±


    A booming voice interrupted as a solid object was flung from another room into the side of Valia. She yelped distinctly before snapping upright. The scaled creature bolted from the bed and dashed out the door it had entered through. Then, a lithe, fox-like creature glared deathly at Valia before silently slipping away. A quick glance revealed the object to be a cast-iron donkey, roughly two hand-widths in size¡ªa stark reminder that even the smaller beings possessed formidable strength. The agitated were-fox¡¯s eyes briefly met mine, their gaze uncomfortably familiar¡­


    ¡°W-wait a second. Luna? Right?¡± I asked wearily. Despite my condition and complete lack energy, fear for my life was the only motivating force keeping me awake and attentive. It was obviously affecting my speech by this point. Luna paused, mostly outside of the doorway, except her tail. It was a subtle observation, but her tail definitely was noticably fluffier than others and had a few streaks of gold through it. ¡°I-I don¡¯t blame you for today¡­¡±


    Her tail fluttered for a second but quickly disappeared as Zylas walked in. A lump formed in my throat, despite Zylas remaining in her human form. Her hands and feet were still exposed with sharp claws. She was in a more casual punk attire, probably the same she chased me down in. ¡°Alright Daegon, I know our contract said you could kill yourself but if you stay up in this condition any longer I will not survive another encounter with Lord. So, you¡¯re coming with me even if you don¡¯t like it.¡±


    Zylas walked up to me and reached out a hand, razor sharp claws and all. I harshly flinched, despite it being a decent way away. The rune flared on her hand, as she turned it so she could stare intently at it, before glancing back up at me. ¡°Look, I¡¯ll lead you to a bed. I literally cannot do anything that would endanger you. Grab my hand and watch.¡±


    I hesitated, but the contract flashed in my head reminding me of the deal struck. I didn¡¯t realize it at the time, but I also received a runic circle on my hand. Reaching forward, she lightly pulled me up to my feet. Despite a few claws making contact with my skin, they didn¡¯t scratch me at all, which was a small mercy in the chaos of tonight.


    ¡°Alright so, to prove my point and the contract, I¡¯m going to focus my bloodlust on you for a second.¡± Zylas spoke plainly, with her golden eyes piercing me, ensuring I understood what was about to happen. The atmosphere shifted, and my senses tingled, but it wasn¡¯t the same murderous intent as that night. Regardless, the runes on her hand flared into a violent rage, as if her blood caught fire beneath them. For reasons I couldn¡¯t explain in my barely functioning mind, I tried to cover her runes with my free hand to stop it. As I did, the heat from it ceased instantly, despite the ¡®bloodlust¡¯ lingering around me. It took a few moments, but she dropped her ¡®murderous intent¡¯, alleviating my senses. Realizing the situation, I hastily removed my hand and looked up to see a very unamused, probably internally irate, Zylas.


    "Alright Sugar-tits, this way." She quipped with a dismissive lip smack as we navigated several dark corridors at a painstaking pace. I could feel unseen eyes tracking our every step, their presence lurking in the shadows. After a brief pause, she unlocked a door ahead and led me through what felt like a minefield. Though I couldn¡¯t see her face, I imagined it held the faintest trace of something other than hostility. In that gloom, I even sensed a subtle smirk. Gently, she shoved me onto the softest bed I had ever encountered.


    "Need anything else?"


    "M..maybe¡­ a¡­"


    My voice faltered as exhaustion overwhelmed me; my thoughts tangled and I sank into an indescribable sleep, cradled in the heart of the most harrowing refuge imaginable.


    <hr>


    -Interim 3/d ¨C Takes place 2 hours after Daegon falls asleep. <See, Post-Chapter Note>


    <hr>


    My head throbbed in time with each heartbeat, and my body ached as though every muscle had been torn. It felt as if both my legs had been ripped apart, a constant, fiery reminder of the ordeal. Yet, the room cocooned me in serene tranquility, its air imbued with an otherworldly aroma that soothed my battered senses. The darkness was complete, yet it exuded no menace, and a chill reminiscent of a winter night with a cracked window lingered.


    I lay nestled in what felt like a memory-foam cocoon beneath a voluminous, plush blanket. A comforting warmth pressed against me, embodied by a body pillow I clung to instinctively as I began to piece together the previous day''s events. The contract had been signed after midnight, and we had reached "The Den" within an hour, well beyond the Bastion¡¯s confines. Despite the chaos, I still recalled the time: Zylas had left for other matters for roughly two hours while Valia cared for me and Luna kept watch. I must have drifted off around 3 a.m. With 29 hours remaining on the contract, it was now...


    "Seven in the afternoon... I''m starving... mentally drained... and utterly immobile." I murmured to myself, the weight of exhaustion heavy upon me. I attempted to adjust the body pillow for some modicum of comfort, only to find it behaving oddly. It felt larger and more unwieldy than before, until it began to shrink. It moved. I pushed away as much as I could, and saw a slight figure in the darkness and began to stretch.


    ¡°Honestly, if you slept through the contract, it would have been easier on me.¡± Zylas¡¯ tired voice broke the silence, punctuated by a yawn that echoed through the darkness. Even in the dim light, her piercing eyes bore into mine with a weariness that matched my own. ¡°What? Safest spots my room. Did you expect me to throw you in the pit with the younger ones? This entire place would have been killed off if I was that fuckin¡¯ stupid.¡±


    ¡°I-but-what-I¡­¡± trying to piece things together.


    ¡°Apparently you have a leg fe-¡± Zylas began, her hand glowing faintly in the darkness. "Fucking contract... You latched onto my leg after I jumped in a few hours later. At least it was a decent way to ensure you weren¡¯t dying, you fucking energy vampire. Seriously, I¡¯ve never sl¡ª Ugh, forget it."


    ¡°I-I-I¡¯m so sorry I didn¡¯t mean to I¡­¡±


    My words faltered, fear creeping in at the thought of what might happen in the next 30 hours. After my harrowing encounter and near-death experience with Zylas in my home, I had learned of her contract in the world. According to Zylas'' rules, she could hunt down those who had benefited from an assault, either for personal amusement or in self-defense of imminent death. In human terms, this typically meant those who sexually assaulted or violated others. Theft, property damage, or bodily harm didn''t usually constitute a breach of her contract. However, after her ''drunken binge'' encounter with me and some rule bending, she apparently had been reprimanded and placed on a ''tighter leash''.


    ¡°Tjm''d pq ykgw z vkgexmc bkyys, Tzqcjm, I¡¯m not stupid enough to consider it a breach.¡± Zylas retorted with a low, rumbling yawn, her words laced with stark truth. ¡°xv sjk¡¯lq cjxmc dj ydzmt zmt crzlq qxdwql zbbljzgw dwq wknzm, yes I sleep in my normal form. Human bodies are too fucking chilly alone.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ Uh... Okay...¡±


    I mumbled, realizing what she meant. It felt as though she had risen¡ªthe bed shifting beneath me with a soft thump as she lightly jumped and landed a few feet away. In the darkness, I caught fleeting glints of her golden eyes and the faint rustle of movement.


    ¡°Alright, can you at least walk properly now? Because I¡¯m literally going to drag you by the neck if you can¡¯t.¡± She snarled, her tone laced with impatience. I gingerly maneuvered to the edge of the bed, each movement sending shockwaves of pain through my body. Despite the agony, I managed to stand, albeit unsteadily. Several exasperated lip smacks from Zylas echoed in the room before she seized my arm and propelled me through what felt like a minefield, finally depositing me outside a rapidly swinging door. It slammed shut behind me with a definitive click of the lock. ¡°Come on, if the fresh meat did their jobs, you should have food waiting for you. Which, it does smell like.¡±


    The light outside was brighter yet subdued, casting long, wavering shadows that danced over familiar surfaces. A strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu washed over me as I followed Zylas down a corridor. Every window was shrouded¡ªmostly covered by grimy drapes¡ªthough the exposed panes looked ancient, dirty, and sometimes shattered.


    ¡°That¡¯s because we have been here.¡± ¡­ When? ¡°Many months ago, you made a lot of funds scavenging this mansion. It was in quite the state. They must have moved in shortly after your adventure. Lucky for you, this wouldn¡¯t have been survivable this far outside of the Bastion.¡± ¡­ You¡¯re abnormally chatty for once. "Let¡¯s just say, that sleep was beneficial for all three of us.¡± Zylas¡¯ rune flickered briefly before fading as we entered a lengthy room. I was immediately overwhelmed by the medley of aromas: smoky, spiced meats mingled with fresh herbs, as though I had stepped into an elaborate buffet.


    "Oi, meals on wheels, you can eat anything. Nothing here will kill you. Now, go mingle."


    Zylas barked before striding away, leaving me to observe over a dozen creatures gathered around the table with plates laden with meat. Their eyes lingered on me, and though no one spoke directly, I felt the weight of their scrutiny. I took a deep, steadying breath and approached the nearest serving¡ªa generous portion of saut¨¦ed meat, served with the bones intact.


    ¡°Oh, you humans call that deer.¡± A nearby voice spoke, and I tensed as I turned sharply to see Carna in a rather loose outfit. ¡°She just reverted back to approach you. Isn¡¯t that sweet?¡± ¡­ You can stop with the dialogue at any time Li-


    ¡°You uh, you okay in there Daegon?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah. Fine, just- ¡°I said before wincing at a wave of pain flushing over me. I should probably hurry and find a place to sit down with some food. ¡°Could you maybe tell me the rest of these dishes?¡±


    Carna identified the meats: chicken, goat, even bear, and some creatures whose safety for human consumption made me hesitate. Though she reassured me, I opted for the familiar. The entire conversation felt nerve-racking amid a room full of beings. Even in her human guise, the situation left me uneasy. As I settled near a far wall, I noticed the absence of silverware. Carna, as if reading my mind, produced an antiquated fork and a sharply honed knife with a gentle smile.


    "I figured you¡¯d appreciate a semblance of decency. These are one of my many swipes."


    She said cheerily, settling beside me. I soon realized she was unconsciously mirroring my own movements¡ªdown to the positioning of her elbows.


    "Y-you¡¯re... copying me?" I asked, glancing from her hand to mine.


    ¡°Well, yeah. Most of us don¡¯t know how you humans do things. Just because I can walk around you all doesn¡¯t mean I can freely interact or watch without suspicion.¡± She stated matter-of-factly. I paused, and looked about. There were definitely more eyes than before looking over. Was I teaching them all on social norms of humans? ¡°If they learn from you, we have nothing to worry about them blending into society. They¡¯ll be thrown back into the stre¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oi, flesh-sack, you done?¡± A sharp voice cut across the room. Zylas glared over seeing both Carna and I. ¡°Of course not. Hey, rest of the useless meat-bearers xv sjk¡¯lq cjxmc dj ydzmt zmt crzlq qxdwql zbbljzgw dwq wknzm, or GET THE FUCK OUT!¡±


    The atmosphere definitely changed rather quickly, as most of the others in the room quickly fled from the irate Zylas. Though, a few remained. What could only be described as a stunning deer-like woman sheepishly made her way closer to the table and stuttered a bit. It was an uncanny beauty, nothing like the forced allure I felt before on that dreaded night. Her green eyes held the tranquility of all nature within them.


    ¡°Jw, Phq, txt sjk hzmd dj rqzlm djj?¡± Carna definitely asked them a question, in which they quickly nodded. She motioned to one of the free seats and produced another set of silverware from somewhere I definitely couldn¡¯t see. Another heavily veiled individual walked up to us. They were wearing a very ornate and foreign dress that flowed passed their arms and legs. The atmosphere of them felt of wrath and sorrow. But, it wasn¡¯t directed towards me. ¡°Jw, sjk djj, Jmlx?¡±


    ¡°I uh, I guess I-I¡¯m¡­ Teaching?¡± I asked a bit concerned. They all nodded in agreement.


    <hr>


    A lot of time passed between dinner and now. I was allowed to shower, much to the curiosity and disappointment of some of the creatures as I did so alone. That gave me a little bit of a breather before being tossed back into the fray. Despite the awkward air of being the only human in a mansion of human devouring beings, things started to feel a bit ¡®normal¡¯. I learned the cloaked lady creature was originally from a far-off island bastion, and the deer lady had actually been a part of this world for well over a dozen centuries. Banished to this very forest away from most common folk and even other creatures felt like a rather cruel ordeal. The upheaval finally freed her from the confines and allowed her to walk freely. Most of the creatures didn¡¯t have names and looked displaced. Aside from Zylas and the other were-like creatures, I¡¯m not sure I had much of an innate fear of the now curious monsters that swarmed me, kind of treating me like a little puppy. Though I knew most them could still end my existence given the chance, and it was Zylas¡¯ contract that kept me safe. A lot of them couldn¡¯t really speak. Or at least not in tongues I understood. But Carna and a few others were happy to translate. There were¡­ Two¡­ Maybe three dozen beings here. Though only a handful lingered nearby at a time, as if they were cycling their time around me.


    The lives of these creatures, both within and outside bastions, were intricate webs of interaction. I learned this place had been restored by Zylas just under a month ago, and many had moved in under her rule. With wildlife running amok, they were free to hunt and feed within limits¡ªZylas¡¯ guidance ensuring balance. Some, like other were-likes, chose to reside in the bastion despite the inherent risks.


    ¡°Alright, story times are over. Everyone go do your own shit.¡± Zylas commanded as she strolled into the room, partially reverting to her human form. Her tattered, stretched clothes clung loosely to her form. Almost immediately, everyone departed except for Carna, who reclined in a corner bed. I barely noticed she had resumed her ¡®normal¡¯ appearance¡ªlikely for quite some time now. ¡°We¡¯re going to have our contractual talk, now. Come, my room.¡±


    We wound our way back through a labyrinth of rooms until we reached a sturdy, dark door marked with a carved ¡®Z¡¯ and a deep matte lock. Zylas placed her hand on the knob, and with a decisive click, the door swung open. She pointed sharply for me to enter. The room was bathed in soft ambient light, with piles of clothing and assorted items along the walls. In the center stood a pair of surprisingly comfortable chairs¡ªout of place amidst the clutter. She nudged me toward one chair.


    ¡°Sit, good boy.¡± She quipped, and I complied. Much to my astonishment, it swiveled, as did hers as she plopped down. Though, her chair definitely sank more than mine.


    ¡°So¡­ Where do we begin¡­¡± I asked timidly, unsure what to expect. A cold, dissonant voice borrowed my mouth.  <u>¡°</u><u>In exchange you come to your senses and hear me out within that time as well. We talk, and you listen.¡± </u>


    ¡°Yeah, what that harlot said.¡± Zylas snarled. She was much larger than the chair, even in human form. She aimlessly stared up at the ceiling while slowly spinning. ¡°Ah fuck it, you¡¯ll survive. You already have.¡±


    Then, with a decisive clap, the room¡¯s light dimmed by nearly 80%, cloaking details in shadow while still leaving them discernible. She rose and kicked the chair aside into a heap of clothes before approaching her bed... She, transformed¡­ The rune on my hand burned slightly, as the contracts¡¯ rules flashed in my head. ¡®We talk, and you listen.¡¯ Even though my deep-rooted, life-altering fear loomed before me, it couldn¡¯t break our agreement. She let out a rather long, stress relieving sigh, with a massive daggered paw covering her face. ¡°Aaah, so much fucking better. You humans and your fucking lights everywhere is such a pain in my damn head.¡±


    ¡°Why did you attack me? Why me?¡± I blurted out rather loudly, sweating a bit. I don¡¯t know where the audacity came from, but it was a question that did keep me up some nights that just rolled out.


    ¡°Oh, good. You¡¯re asking questions. This will be so much easier.¡± She spoke, unmoving. ¡°Because you¡¯re a rare catch- Ugh. Because I am blood-hungry and feast on those who fall under my contract. You both pass and fail the rules set before me. Even now. Back then I could kill outside those rules if I bent the meaning enough, and I abused it to fill my own desires. It¡¯s like you humans and your ever-growing desires, until it kills you.¡±


    ¡°W-what do you mean I¡ª¡± I started asking before my throat closed up for a second. I felt like I sank back into my own body for a moment, as the other entity borrowed all it wanted. <u>¡°I¡¯m the reason you fall under her contract. I fall under a lot of contracts in this world. But, you don¡¯t.¡± </u>


    ¡°Well, that explains that part. Your little leech here has forced herself on others.¡± Zylas spoke, a golden eye now fixated on me.


    <u>¡°You make it sound as if you¡¯re any better, little puppy.¡± </u> The voice spoke before I hastily snapped back into control, out of the fear of my own life. My heart pounded like a drum as I straightened up. ¡°Oh come now, she can¡¯t raise a hair to us in this state. Let me have my fun with her.¡±


    There was a pause as Zylas sat up, her gaze piercing and intense. She harbored some very choice words, but opted to hold them back for the moment. Letting out a light grumble, she continued, ¡°Your blood is something special as well. When I fell on you, I got an accidental taste. It... Well, I didn¡¯t have the intent of killing you outside my rules until then.¡±


    Reflecting on it, the bloodlust didn¡¯t intensify until after she collapsed. At the time, I instinctively touched the wound on my side where she had originally cut me open. She followed my motions but made no comment. Questions and concerns flooded my mind. I realized the gravity of what I possessed in my blood, something that could draw others in, potentially putting me in danger if they stepped out of line. It was a revelation that made me rethink the perilous nature of my previous salvaging runs. If Zylas knew about it, then others could just as easily find out. Something clicked in my head, but I struggled to find the right words to express it.


    ¡°Oh? That¡¯s a little devious, even for you little Daegon. Maybe I¡¯m rubbing off on you after all.¡±


    ¡°H-how much b... Blood do you need to survive?¡± I asked, my voice trembling slightly. Zylas appeared genuinely surprised, almost taken aback. She stood up, walked over, and kneeled in front of me, meeting my gaze.


    ¡°From you? Much less than you think. Why?¡± she responded, her voice carrying a low, rumbling growl. Despite her attempt to mask it, there was an underlying difference from her usual demeanor. The various layers of degradation and intimidation faded away, making her current state standout vividly. She held that gaze for what felt like a solid minute before something caught her attention, and her door opened. But it wasn''t the usual hallway. A hastily moving Faun in a blue CDS uniform burst into the room.


    ¡°Hi yes hello yes, sorry for intrusion. No sorry I¡¯m not willing to join in on Human, not my thing. All for you Lady Zylas. Urgent Delivery, straight from you-know-who. No signature, please just- yup thank you I¡¯ll leave you to your dinner, ta-ta!¡± Once again, the hasted CDS Faun that gave me my uniform arrived, and it left after handing off a sealed envelope to Zylas. The door briskly closed, not before I caught a glimpse of the other side. Another location I very, very much remember.


    ¡°Jv zrr dwq vkgexmc dwxmcy dj wzbbqm, jv gjklyq wq hjkrt xmdqlvqlq... ¡± Zylas uttered in a quiet raging growl, looking at the envelope. It gave off the same vicious feeling the night we met, and sent cold shivers down my spine.


    ¡°We¡¯re extending the infernal contract, you good with that?¡± Zylas spoke in a begrudging tone. She hated the very thought of it, but obviously that letter spelt some form of trouble for her, or just maybe, me.


    I accepted.

 4-Understand

    4-Understand


    -July 31<sup>st</sup>, 1:00am.


    ¡°I have to say, for a human you sure are causing quite a stir in this community of ours Daegon.¡± The white-haired teen remarked nonchalantly as he lounged on a plush couch. He was idly toying with my phone again. You would think obtaining such a trivial item would be - ¡°Child¡¯s play for such a creature.¡± His eyes, pure, unyielding alabaster, locked onto mine, creating a palpable tension in the air. There was a reason why he was known as ''Lord''. In fact, he¡¯s the only being I¡¯ve been told that goes by just Lord.


    ¡°Uh, yeah. It¡¯s been quite a, uh, great learning experience, L.¡± I replied hesitantly, averting my gaze. My encounters with him had been sporadic but memorable. I first noticed him wandering the streets at night, his striking white hair making him hard to miss. Once, I stumbled upon him in the midst of a heated argument, two menacing figures looming over him. Acting on impulse, I intervened, diffusing the situation before it escalated. Surprisingly, they backed off, though I couldn''t fathom why at the time given their size advantage. Since then, our paths crossed more frequently, and we even shared a few warm meals together.


    L was an enigma, his peculiar cadence growing more refined over time. He despised confinement and roamed the Bastion freely. Perhaps because my own life revolved around scavenging the outskirts and vending my finds, our mutual affinity blossomed. In exchange for his companionship, I could only offer him occasional hearty meals. When I inquired about his name, he curtly said, "Call me L." Odd as it was, I took it in stride, sensing a guarded trust beneath his terse response. Even after my brush with death and the revelation of his true nature, he persisted with that singular moniker. Every time I see him now, I wonder what fate might have befallen those men had I not intervened.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s good to hear. You¡¯re rather useful and have great insight to the human realm, and I really wouldn¡¯t want you ending up dead that quickly. It is your choice on how to live, after all. I¡¯m sure your experiences at the Cryptid Delivery Services will be hugely beneficial to gain knowledge of their world though, if you last. Well, when they finally get around to giving you another job that is.¡± Lord spoke casually, turning his gaze back to the phone. ¡°Do you think the CDS would benefit from such a device?¡±


    ¡°I uh, well no. A lot of creatures block its usage, like Zylas, when they¡¯re hunting. Their battery life while good for us, probably wouldn¡¯t hold up on some of the more time-warping creatures you told me about. Plus, they¡¯re prone to break rather easily in a lot of different ways, also prone to liquid damage. I don¡¯t think someone like Jaskrim could easily use one without breaking it either, it¡¯s rather small¡­ I uh, just my opinion though L. I¡¯m sure you could make it work if you wanted to¡­¡± I mumbled, my words trailing off as I contemplated aloud. My gaze flinched away from his intense stare, and a mischievous smirk danced across his face before he flipped my phone around with practiced ease.


    "Ah, you keep me grounded, Daegon. Your carefree spirit is a blessing, but it could also be your downfall if you''re not cautious... Now, tell me about this Zylas situation. I''ve already spoken with her, but she was rather tight-lipped about the details." Lord then casually tossed my phone in my direction. It zipped through the air with startling speed and, despite my best efforts, bounced off my hands before landing screen-first on the marble floor. I hesitated, staring at it for a moment, then gingerly flipped it over. Not a single scratch marred its surface. ¡°You should drop it again to make sure.¡±


    ¡°Hell no! These are expensive!¡± I snapped instinctively. My eyes widened at my own blunt retort, and Lord burst into laughter.


    ¡°No, no seriously. Drop it again. Throw it even.¡± Lord spoke between his fits of laughter. I really didn¡¯t want to anger him so¡­ I picked it up and chucked it at the wall behind him, with several clacks and clangs before it settled on the floor. Lord eventually composed himself before snapping his fingers, causing the phone to fly back toward me, slightly chilled to the touch. Miraculously, it remained unscathed.


    ¡°Did you¡­ Enchant it?¡± I asked, inspecting every side of my device. I couldn¡¯t find a single mark. It was probably more durable than my work clothes.


    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go with that term. Use it during work, you¡¯re going to be my test subject. If it works out I might find a way to get more for the CDS. It could cut down on hiring costs.¡± Lord explained casually as he stretched and rose to his feet. ¡°Now really, back to Zylas.¡±


    I hesitated a bit unsure where to begin or what exactly Lord wanted to know. There¡¯s a very good chance he already knew about the contract Zylas and I signed. After all, we arrived here together. Glancing down at my hand, I remembered the contracts quite visible presence. Lord took immediate notice and walked over grabbing my hand to inspect it. His touch was numbingly cold, but it wasn¡¯t painful.


    ¡°Amours¡¯ Folly¡­ That explains a bit.¡± Lord remarked, his eyes gleaming with mischievous intent. ¡°You do realize that this contract holds both of your lives in the balance while it¡¯s in effect, right? As special as it is, you really need to be careful who you sign it with. This is normally done among beings as a form of dedicated teamwork, or mutually assured destruction in the worst-case scenario. Would you like to see what I mean? I promise it¡¯ll be painless, mostly.¡±


    ¡°Can you explain that a bit more beforehand? I, uh, don¡¯t want to cause more problems than necessary.¡± I asked, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Lord''s eyes flickered, and he gave me a warm smile before a guttural roaring sound echoed from somewhere beyond the double doors on our left. Returning my gaze to Lord, I saw my entire arm up to the shoulder covered in a pure crystalline structure. There was no pain, but I couldn¡¯t move my arm. ¡°Wha¡ª¡±


    The doors to the room shattered into large chunks of shrapnel, and a fully transformed Zylas barreled full speed at Lord. Lord casually held out his hand as Zylas¡¯ massive paw stopped mere inches from him, seemingly freezing her in place. The unadulterated bloodlust pouring out from her was enough that any normal person wouldn¡¯t be able to physically breathe. Well, that¡¯s what my mind told me I should be feeling at least, but for some reason next to Lord I felt calm. Beyond calm, if that was possible. This was¡­ Nothing. I did flinch at how close Zylas ended up though, instinctively blocking my head with both my arms. Wait, Both? My arm was no longer covered in that crystalline structure. Instead, Zylas¡¯ hand was covered in it, as it quickly shot up her arm and threatened to encase her head. The rune on my arm blazed with immense passion, and my mind surged into overdrive. I sucker-punched Lord. I would have at least, if he didn¡¯t seem to already be several paces away back to the other couch.


    ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯m done having my fun you two. I¡¯m not here to interfere.¡± Lord said putting his hands up, still smiling. ¡°Daegon just needed to know the extent of what you offered is all.¡±


    "YJ SJK DLS DJ VKGEXMC EXRR KY SJK¡ª¡± Zylas screamed in a blind rage, her voice reverberating through the room. She took a massive step toward him, raising her once-encased arm in the air. However, she paused, returning to some form of reasoning. Slowly, the bloodlust in the area began to fade, or at least became directed at a singular target. She shot me a rather wicked glare, scrutinizing me from head to toe before giving a low growl and turning to leave


    Slowly, the bloodlust in the area began to fade, or at least became directed at a singular target. She shot me a rather wicked glare, scruitinizing me from head to toe before giving a low growl and turning to leave.


    ¡°C-can¡¯t you at least apologize to her, L?¡± I asked straightening back up a bit, processing the situation further. The contract seemed to keep each party intertwined with each other. When Zylas¡¯ arm was encased, I felt she might be in danger. Surprisingly, I knew the cause of it and reacted without a single thought. That must be what he meant about¡­ ¡°A good part of Zylas¡¯ contract is redundant. Truth, is the real deal she offered you. Because if either of you died, so would the other. Very clever.¡±


    ¡°Oh, what a human concept.¡± Lord mused, amusement lacing his tone. Zylas paused, her ears twitching at our exchange. He walked back over to me with his hands behind his head and looked me over. I could feel him prying at my senses, curious as ever. ¡°For you Daegon, I¡¯ll do you one better. Just this once, though.¡±


    Reaching his arms into the air, Lord clapped twice, and all light vanished from the room. After another round of claps, light returned, revealing Zylas seated on the edge of an adjacent couch in her human form, studying herself with a trace of perplexity. Her previously shredded clothes appeared miraculously repaired; even the scattered shrapnel and far-off doors were restored¡ªalbeit with a crystalline embellishment. Beside her, Lord reclined on the couch, eyes fixed on the ceiling.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you one th¡ª¡± Lord began, before being cut off.


    ¡°Lqfjeq sjkl gjm¡ª¡± Zylas began, cutting Lord off before getting cut off herself.


    ¡°If you want to be that hasty, I¡¯ll give the choice to our good Daegon over here.¡± Lord said in a measured, almost monotonous tone. ¡°That should suffice, no?¡±


    ¡°What did she ask for?¡± I inquired, sensing the serious tension from Zylas despite Lord''s mostly lackadaisical response.


    ¡°Oh, nothing too important. I¡¯ll give you until the end of that contract between you two to figure something out for her. Now go, I have duties to ignore.¡± Lord said with a yawn, waving me off.


    ¡°Hopefully we can catch up when things are a bit nicer for both of us, L.¡± I spoke shifting around, as Zylas was already a step outside the door. Making my own way out, the hallway was devoid. I let out a rather long destressing groan before heading back the way we were originally lead. Taking a left down a hallway to go down some stairs, and into another hallway that would lead to the main hall. The building had non-Euclidean pathing, making it more about trusting where you were wanting to go than taking a specific path. As I was about to reach the main hall, I felt a rather strong grip on my shoulder before being thrown down an adjacent hallway. In a quick flurry of actions: I was violently picked up, tossed against the wall, and raised up by my throat with a solid punch landing in my diaphragm. It¡¯s a bit of an understatement, but Zylas was not in a good mood and I could no longer breathe.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°HWZD ZLQ SJK BRJDDXMC HXDW DWQ RJLT SJK JLCZMXG NQZDPZC? VJL WJH RJMC? X HXRR LXB JKD SJKL XMDQYDXMQY AKYD VKGEXMC DLS RSXMC DJ NQ!¡± Zylas vehemently screamed still in human form, the rune on her hand glowing white hot as blood slowly drained from it. Despite my best efforts I couldn¡¯t utter a sound, and grabbed onto the singular arm hoisting me up in an attempt to get her to stop. The pained look in her eyes, felt much deeper rooted and transcendent than I could hope to understand. Her grip tightened, and nails dug in, threatening to completely rip and tear everything between her hand. In this very moment, contract or not, there was nothing on this world that would stop her. I felt my consciousness begin to slip, and only one thing seemed to remain in my head. For once¡­ It wasn¡¯t fear.


    I tried to utter something again, but it didn¡¯t work. My hand instinctively reached out and touched Zylas¡¯ hand, causing the glowing and bleeding to stop. Seconds were stretched into agonizing minutes, vision began to blur, and darkness crept in at the edges. Suddenly I was allowed to gasp for air, as I collapsed to the ground.


    ¡°Cancel the contract!¡± Zylas¡¯ growling voice pierced through the haze of my regaining consciousness, as I desperately heaved. Each breath felt like fire in my lungs as I struggled to regain normalcy. ¡°Get this fucking leash off me!¡±


    ¡°W-wha¡ª¡± I attempted to speak, but my throat rebelled against the effort, leaving my words choked and strained.


    ¡°How long, when, did you plan all this with HIM!? I- Just, don¡¯t even bother answering sjk, sjk, WKNZM! Aaagh!¡± Zylas screamed, her voice filled with fury as she walked back and forth in front of me. The throbbing of my bruised neck seemed to be in time with her steps.


    ¡°Then¡­ Make an amendment to the c-contract. I-I¡¯ll also only tell¡­ the truth from my side of things.¡± I managed to choke out, each word strained with pain. My hand trembled as it reached my neck, confirming the presence of blood. Zylas punched the wall above me twice, followed by the harrowing sounds of her claws scraping downward. Her gaze met mine as her claws ended up next to my head, locking me in a position I wasn¡¯t able to move from already. Her eyes, wild and predatory, locked onto mine... ¡°Reduce it to 2 hours. We must talk, we both must listen and understand each other¡­¡±


    <hr>


    The door slammed shut with a rumble behind us, knocking a deprecated frame off the wall. We were back in Zylas¡¯ room. A loud crunch was heard; she seemed to have punched through something.


    ¡°What¡¯s your relation with Lord? DESPISE. How did you know I would make this contract, when did it turn into this leash? WORRY. WHEN did this all start! FRUSTRATION. Were you aware this was the end game of that night!? DISTRUST. DISGUST. BETRAYED.¡± Zylas machinegunned questions without hesitation. My head rang, echoing with each question, over and over and over until they dug into my very core. Holding a hand over my left eye, I turned around to face her. She was barely retaining her human form and kept herself between me and the door.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you would make a contract with me. In fact, I didn¡¯t know what a contract wa¡ª¡± I flinched at the contracts will to uphold the truth, regardless of intended reasoning. Quickly regaining myself, I glanced to my hand seeing the rune burn a brilliant red. Zylas began to grow- HATE, DECEIVED, CONFUSED, BETRAYED ¨C but winced, allowing me to continue before she could move. ¡°I mean to say non-human contracts. I didn¡¯t know about these supernatural, this infernal contract or that there were others! I swear.¡±


    ¡°Go on¡­ Keep talking.¡± WORRY, CONCERN, CONFUSED, IMPLORE. Zylas said stepping forward, her eyes struggling to maintain their focus on mine. CONFUSED, ATTENTTIVE, DISTRESS. Since leaving that meeting with Lord, all of Zylas''s hatred and frustration seemed to be directed squarely at me. Every event of the past month, every effort I made to keep my head down and resolve things, to find some semblance of reason or logic in the actions of these beings beyond my understanding... It all led to sleepless nights and hollow days, my worry turning into an obsessive need to survive. But Zylas, she had the strength to endure it all ¨C


    Zylas suddenly recoiled as though under attack, clutching her head while still trying to maintain eye contact with me. But I found myself unable to discern her motives, or even to care, anymore. It was as if I was consumed by a fit of INSANITY. ALONE, thrust into SURVIVAL and the UNKNOWN. DREAD of tomorrow¡­ broke a POWERLESS barrier holding back the only thing left repressed. EMOTION.


    ¡°The last thing I wanted was to ever acknowledge you were actually real outside of my nightmares. You¡­ You killed me! Your voice haunts my every step! I¡¯m sure you relish in that fact, it¡¯s what most of you predators feed on right? Nothing was planned! Not YOU killing me, not having any other choice but to sign that contract with YOU, not figuring out L isn¡¯t just some random kid I get to treat to dinner on occasion. No, he¡¯s some big fucking deal in your world! Nothing is NORMAL anymore! And, me putting a leash on YOU? That has to be the first joke of your existence! I don¡¯t think anyone could do that. I didn¡¯t have much of a life, I kept to myself, I didn¡¯t want ANY of this!¡± I spouted out, - RAGE, ANGER, BROKENNESS - filling my words. She faltered and fell back against the door, her eyes breaking from mine. CONCERN, DISTRAUGHT, CONFUSED, REFLECTION.


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep going though, I don¡¯t want this damned contract either! But the moment it¡¯s over we both know the first thing you¡¯re doing is finishing what you started! Oh right you can¡¯t anymore; then you can just order anyone else in this haven of yours to do it right? I¡¯m sure Luna would of, you came to ¡®save¡¯ me from her remember? You probably put her up to it. You couldn¡¯t hunt me anymore so you found a way for someone else to! I¡¯m human! Your prey! Remember!? What part of you thinks I¡¯m capable of doing anything threatening to YOU anyways!?¡± I shouted, and shouted, kept pushing it all out until nothing remained¡­ ¡°Do you even understand how I feel, how humans feel?¡±


    I fell to my knees. Unable to see, unable to feel, unable to care... Why did I waste so much effort on a heartless creature...? SHAME¡­ Nothing could change what was done, or what is to come. Our lives, my life, has already been decided. AGONY, HOPELESSNESS¡­


    I¡¯m aware of fate more than most¡­ ALONE.


    Many don¡¯t get the chance to truly speak their mind before their end, I can at least feel easy about that. RELINQUISHED¡­ I took a deep breath of the still, cold air of the room. Memories of looking up, through the moonlit trees¡­ Tranquil, solitary peace, and the kissing wind dancing over my skin before fading to sleep¡­ One last little enjoyment, before taking the next step forward. I exhaled. ¡°Wait Daegon! I can¡¯t pr¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m willing to end this contract right now. Not everyone gets to decide things for themselves at the end¡­ Lets just get this over with.¡±


    There was no response¡­ Even after waiting, no response¡­ I wiped my face, squinting through pained eyes. The room was darker, but I could make out the shape of Zylas sitting at the door in her full form, her head bowed and eyes closed. The rune on her hand glowed a fathomless purple. I moved to sit back, as the sensation of pins and needles flared up on my legs finally, causing me to kick them out from under me. That¡¯s when ¨C REFLECTION ¨C, Zylas lifted her head opening her eyes.


    FAMILIAR


    Eyes are said to be the gateway to ones¡¯ soul. Words, smith the characteristics hidden deep within and carry their purest intentions to others. The hardest part is understanding that hidden value, their true meaning meant¡­


    ¡°Another day¡­ TIME. REFLECTION. Reset the time back to our prior agreement¡­ To give time to understand¡­¡± Zylas whispered, standing up and walking past me. A rather carefree flop came from behind me, and a large ruffling of pillows and blankets began. I couldn¡¯t make out the words she said, but I felt their meaning.


    ¡°Two days¡­ Was it¡­?¡± Quietly I asked, standing up. The door had a distinct light shining through a fist-sized hole at head level. I began making my way towards it, unsure of my intentions or where to go. The burning blue flames flickered in my eyes, acknowledging another amendment has been made as I quietly opened and closed Zylas¡¯ door behind me. Three lights, in fact, came from this side of the door. I was deep within my mind, at the core of something primal; Arguing, conflicting, questioning, with something that had nothing to gain, unable to retort.


    A hot, jarring pain made its way across my face snapping me back to reality. Three flames. Green eyes with hints of red, stared me down, filled with passion. Filled with care. ¡°Don¡¯t you forget those feelings. Don¡¯t you forget.¡±


    Luna stood before me; her form was something mythical. Three tails, each with a lone floating barely sustaining fire. ¡°Kitsune¡­ Fox-kin, far from home. As kind, intelligent, and passionate as their beautiful exterior¡­ An Empath¡­¡± Words I never thought Li-


    ¡°Daegon.¡± Luna spoke adamantly, demanding my fullest attention. I could see tears on her face, but her eyes were steeled.


    ¡°W-what.¡± I spoke trembling, unable to keep up with the rush of emotions and thoughts seemingly unlocked once again. Luna raised her hand and pressed a singular finger between my eyes. One word. It rang out, pushing every distraction gently aside in my head. A warm, caring embrace.


    ¡°SLEEP¡±

 5-Biting the Apple

    5-Biting the Apple


    -Chapter Start: August 3<sup>rd</sup>, 8PM.


    ¡°I¡¯m happy to see you again Mox Daegon!¡± A deep, enthusiastic voice boomed as heavy footsteps drew closer behind me. Before I could fully turn, two massive arms enveloped me from the sides, hoisting me into the air and shaking me about as Jaskrim embraced me in his powerful grip. Gasping for air, I managed to free an arm to tap out from his nearly suffocating coat of fur. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m just so glad you¡¯re doing well.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay Jaskrim, I missed ya too.¡± I replied, feeling the ache of bruises and injuries from the past few days catching up to me. Thankfully, my work shirt and pants covered most of them, and I wrapped a purple bandana around my neck to hide the rest. Jaskrim looked his usual intimidating self, except for the noticeable scratch marks on his left shoulder plates, peeking out from under his uniform. I guessed he noticed my glance because he shifted slightly to hide them from view.


    ¡°Strange, Mox Baku isn¡¯t here.¡± Jaskrim remarked, walking over to peek behind the counter. ¡°I wonder what our job is today.¡±


    The shop felt unusually empty, devoid of its usual ambiance. Even the typical aura surrounding the store seemed absent. Jaskrim, however, seemed unfazed by the quiet and took the opportunity to speculate about our next job and discuss the type of food he was looking forward to afterward. I tried to pay attention, but I was still processing everything from two days ago. Just looking at the back of my barren hand brought on a rush of residual emotions. As much of a curse as it felt to have, the Contract no longer being in effect also meant that a valuable protection was no longer granted. The light ringing of bells interrupted our conversation as Jaskrim and I turned to see who walked in.


    ¡°Fight or Flight.¡±


    ¡°Bbbbbzzzzggggeeeeezzzzzcccqqqqqq, ttttqqqrrrrrxxffffqqqlll.¡± The intensity of the sound emitted by the creature before me was almost paralytic at this close of a range, forcing me to wince harshly and close my eyes. A heavy ringing began in my ears, reminiscent of the death wails of some kind of deer choking on blood, as claws dragged across a chalkboard. After regaining my composure, I saw Jaskrim had taken a step forward with a paw slightly blocking its path to me.


    I immediately recognized the creature before me¡ªA wendigo. It was on a completely different level than the one I had encountered recently. Despite feeling close to death in my previous encounter, this was a much more gruesome feeling altogether. This behemoth would have had an easier time on all fours, being well over three times my size. There was no realistic way it made it through the door, let alone occupy the massive space it did in the store. Reality seemed to give way, if only slightly, to allow its disturbing presence. Its emaciated body, bloodied antlers that scraped across the ceiling, exposed deer-like skull for its head, and tattered black fur with ripped ashen flesh hung off the rotting body made for a sight worthy of nightmares. Its black, hollow eyes, tormented my senses as drool pooled on the floor.


    ¡°Hq hxrr nzeq yklq xd cqdy dj xdy xmdqmtqt lqgxbxqmd, dwzme sjk Rjlt jv Mxcwdy.¡± Jaskrim spoke in a fairly similar garbled tone, though it was much more pleasant comparatively. He accepted something from the still staring Wendigo, an unquenchable hunger driving its mind. ¡°The scary part is that it knows better than to do anything right now. You would do well avoiding it when I¡¯m sleeping.¡±


    ¡°We will set out immediately to deliver your goods, M¡ª¡± I began building my resolve, before being cut off.


    ¡°Lord¡­¡± Jaskrim interjected hastily, his arm still in front of me, his tone uneasy.


    ¡°L-lord¡­¡± I corrected myself, stuttering, as I realized the weight by that title. The creature seemed to no longer regard me solely as its next meal, and its mouth closed.


    ¡°Ggggggzzzzzzzllllqqqqqqqqqq, wwwwwwwkkkkkknnnnnnzzzzmmmmmm.¡± The Lord Wendigo shrieked through its closed maw, the cacophony reverberating through the store. I winced once more, as sharp scraping sounds echoed around us. It ended as abruptly as it started, thankfully.


    ¡°You should be fine now, Daegon.¡± Jaskrim said, releasing a sigh of relief. I opened my eyes to find the Lord Wendigo gone, and the door it entered from was once again normal. ¡°We should probably get going. This is a time-sensitive package.¡±


    ¡°Time sensitive?¡± I repeated, the ringing in my ears slowly subsiding. As I approached Jaskrim, he was holding his necklace to a ¨C


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle the package; it would be bad if you paid too much attention to it.¡± Jaskrim said, turning away and concealing it in his shirt. It felt as though something whispered to me, sending a cold murky feeling down my spine.


    ¡°Do you know what it is?¡± I inquired, sensing the linger of unease in the air. Jaskrim turned back with a wide grin, a smear of a viscous black liquid stained his shirt where he had stowed the package.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it human, this should be an easy delivery!¡±


    <hr>


    What felt like four hours passed as we journeyed to deliver Lord Wendigo¡¯s package. The environment grew increasingly claustrophobic as we delved deeper underground into an endless cave system, ¡°in a never-ending spiral to hell¡±. I decided to activate my phone''s light mode, much to Jaskrim¡¯s surprise and delight. He expressed a desire for a ¡®light-box¡¯ for himself, mentioning his deep-sea dives where some additional illumination would prove useful. I secured the phone in my shirt pocket and followed Jaskrim''s directions for the delivery. However, I found myself needing frequent breaks due to lingering injuries, which I explained to Jaskrim. He empathized, understanding the challenges of our line of work.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay Daegon, I get clients can be a bit unforgiving at times.¡± Jaskrim remarked, clutching his shoulder. ¡°They sometimes forget we¡¯re here to help them.¡±


    ¡°I think it would have been worse if they were a client.¡± I replied with a forced chuckle, attempting to lighten the mood.


    FAMILIAR.


    ¡°I think we could just wait. We¡¯re really deep in their lair, they¡¯re bound to find us. The package seems to feel we¡¯re about in the right spot too.¡± Jaskrim said, settling down beside me and glancing at his necklace, which emitted a faint green hue.


    ¡°How do we know where or when a delivery client is?¡± I asked, pulling my phone out from my pocket. To my surprise, it still had 95% battery life¡ªan unexpected result of Lord¡¯s ¡®enchantment¡¯.


    ¡°Oh? Well, they tell us of course. Between the Traveler Rune system, the inscriptions on or notes left with the package, and our library of accepted deliveries and contact info, we can usually quickly find anyone who works in our system. You really haven¡¯t read the handbook, have you?¡± Jaskrim inquired, looking at me curiously. The handbook, known as the CDS¡¯s Handbook, was given to all employees before their first job, providing detailed instructions on how to handle various packages, clients, and situations. However, with the diverse array of client species coming and going, maintaining an up-to-date version was a challenge.


    ¡°They don¡¯t have a human translated version yet.¡± I confessed with a nervous grin, glancing back at Jaskrim. He looked at me with a mixture of surprise and confusion.


    ¡°Right! You¡¯re human! I¡¯m so sorry Mox Daegon.¡± Jaskrim chuckled, his tone lighthearted. If he could blush, I was sure this would have been the moment. It felt rather warm, so I loosened and shook my bandana a bit, hoping to get some airflow onto my neck. Despite the eerie ambiance filled with minor clicks, the rustling of rocks, random echoes from the wind, face-level cobwebs, and the constant sensation of being watched¡­ Well, at least Jaskrim¡¯s humming was a welcome distraction, keeping many of the unnecessary sounds at bay.


    After another hour passed, I finally succumbed to Jaskrim¡¯s persistence. I glossed over many of the details and names, but I explained the events of the past few days to him. He seemed concerned about my wellbeing, so I only mentioned the bruises on my arms, omitting the more gruesome aspects. He expressed intrigue at the fact that even outside of work, I was ¡®mingling¡¯ with so many ¡®contract-bearers¡¯.


    ¡°You¡¯re a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for. Most humans don¡¯t survive multiple encounters. Even the ones that live or mate with them.¡± Jaskrim cheerfully remarked.


    ¡°Wait, what did you say?¡± I said, flash-banged by words.


    ¡°Oh, yeah. It¡¯s really rare, but there are humans that live with other Contract-Bearers, fully knowing what we are.¡± Jaskrim explained, his eyes scanning the darkness of the cave below us. ¡°In fact, our next delivery will be to one.¡±


    ¡°No, well, yes, I meant that. But, what else did you say?¡± I was flustered with dread for some reason, my mind conjuring flashes of the Lord Wendigo. Jaskrim seemed to partially ignore my question as he stood up abruptly. His gaze fixated on the rather large canyon to our left¡ªexcept it hadn¡¯t been there when we originally sat down. There was some ruffling from him, as he tossed a black bound grimoire over the edge. As I watched the object fall, whispers began to creep into my head. ¡°Be quiet, I¡¯m resting¡­¡± As quickly as they started, they disappeared.


    ¡°Alright, we should get going. Our delivery is complete here.¡± Jaskrim spoke in a somewhat monotone voice, keeping his gaze fixated on the darkness. A small flicker of blue flames sprang to life before fading out.


    ¡°Th-that¡¯s it?¡± I asked feeling a bit dizzy. Jaskrim put a claw on my shoulder pulling me back slightly, suggesting we go back up. There didn¡¯t seem to be a quick way out this time around. The air felt uneasy, but after what I assumed was an hour, we resurfaced at our entrance point with no noticeable problems.


    ¡°Round two, here we go.¡± Jaskrim said, nudging me forward. I turned back to see him grinning and holding a blue envelope out for me to grab. ¡°Just put your Rune on the stamped part, and then onto the socket next to the door.¡±


    I flipped the letter over, revealing an elegantly stamped mark, which I assumed was a depiction of a fluffy dog. Taking out my Travelers¡¯ Rune from my pocket, I held it over the mark, turning it a faint green color. The socket next to the rickety old wooden door in front of me glowed the same color as I placed the rune near it.


    ¡°Now you can just¡ª¡± Jaskrim¡¯s words were abruptly interrupted by a violent rumbling in the cave. The Traveler¡¯s Rune burned in my hand, and a flash of a deep, fog-covered forest beckoned in my mind. I stumbled forward, trying to stabilize myself from falling, before being pulled through the door. The scenery was a stark contrast to the cave, exactly like the flash in my mind. As I stood up, a sense of dread swept over my body.


    ¡°DAE¡ª¡± Jaskrim¡¯s voice was cut off as the door closed behind me with a massive, wood-shattering sound.


    <u>¡°RUN, NOW!¡±</u> I broke out into a dead sprint; my body immediately began to heat up as soon as the words escaped. I tried to glance back, but my neck stiffened, forcing me to look forward. It seemed like something else began to assume direct control of my actions.


    ¡°NOW IS NOT THE TIME, FOCUS.¡± Would be much easier if I could assess what was behind me, I thought. The fog didn¡¯t help either, being near impossible to see through, and heavy in my lungs. Despite it only being several seconds, my legs already threatened to give way. ¡°Go left! There¡¯s a stone wall and a door. Try to use it.¡±


    I felt my ankle twist as I fell to the ground, but quickly regained my composure as I scrambled to the left. The Traveler¡¯s Rune burned again as the stone wall erupted from the fog, nearly causing me to run into it. A stone door-like outcrop was to my left with no door inside. Regardless, I hastily ran the rune all around and on the frame to no avail, just when¡ª


    <u>¡°Sorry, little Daegon.¡±</u> I fell backwards into an endless black cloud, unable to move my body, and my senses began to fade. It took a while to realize, but I was sitting in the backseat of my mind as things slowly became apparent.


    -


    <u>¡°Txylqczlt lqzrxds, Plxmc Vjldw dwq Tjjl X mqqt</u><u>.</u><u>¡±</u> A hand I haven¡¯t seen in a long time held the Traveler¡¯s Stone, shining a brilliant white. The outline of the door before me¡­ Us¡­ Glowed, as it slowly began to materialize. We turned around, peering into the inescapable fog of the forest, now almost clear as day. Dark black flames, invisible to human eyes, bounced between trees at a rapid pace. Through these eyes, they were slow and sluggish in their advance. Through these eyes, they were nothing but play things to twist and break. We held out a hand, commanding them to stop, as longer dark nails replaced my old ones. Intricate lines resembling chains danced out from the cuff of our shirt, and the skin seemed to reflect hues of blue and gray. ¡°Mxcwd glqzdklqy tzmgxmc vjl ns fxrq qmlzbdklqnqmd, pqcjmq vljn ns yqmyqy.¡±


    Stolen story; please report.


    A horrendous grotesque symphony of cracking sounds and blood splatter echoed throughout the desiccated forest as the black flames slammed together, hurling themselves into the air and vanishing. Pleasure¡­ Silence¡­ Something seemed amiss after a minute¡¯s pause. As many, many more black flames began to enter sensory range¡­ No, not flames. Blackened life-forces. A rage burned forth, appalled by the very thought of their existence, their audacity to exist within her purview. ¡°Ps ns zpyjrkdq Zkdwjlxds zy Ikqqm, kmwjrs lqdlxpkdxjm hxrr pqvzrr zrr hwj tzlq xmykrd ns yqmyqy!¡±


    Everything that approached froze, contemplating if their lowly existence was worth the risk. One¡­ Two¡­ Three. Another life force, same as the earlier ones, began to slowly twist and turn. Pops, cracks, and shrieks of pain as bones snapped and muscles tore. The torment drowned out the creature¡¯s screams as its body caved in on itself before being launched into the air¡­ One¡­ Two¡­ The life forces began to flee, but not before two more met a similar, blissful end. Euphoria. Tired.


    We opened the door and stepped into a hallway, where apartment numbers lined the walls next to each doorway. This was where we needed to be, it felt right. Just before we fully closed the door, a primal sense of dread shot through our body. Something was amused and very aware of our¡­ Enthusiastic walk, through their forest. A smile¡­ Devilish, sickeningly, crossed our face. Bloodlust spanning countless generations filled our inner-most desires. For a moment, I feared we would re-enter the door. But we recomposed ourselves and closed it, letting out a meager satisfied sigh. Immediately after, the same door opened wildly.


    ¡°You¡¯re not Daegon!¡± Jaskrim yelped slightly, moving back and hair beginning to raise up. We raised our hands up slightly, Traveler¡¯s Rune in hand.


    ¡°<u>Sorry, little one. He¡¯ll be back a little bit later. Perhaps you can amuse me until then?</u>¡± We spoke. It was odd seeing Jaskrim through these eyes, such a massive yellow glow radiated from him. His lifeforce was more prominent and expansive than the life forces we just saw. Several more life forces were dispersed behind him, but of diminishing colors and returns. We reached into our pocket and pulled out the slightly crumpled letter for Jaskrim. He was still quite on edge, but accepted it looking it over.


    ¡°You will need to explain this to me later.¡± He said quietly, flattening the letter on his hand. He was definitely on edge about our new appearance, or maybe it was something else. ¡°The clients are waiting inside.¡±


    We elected to wait outside, leaning on the doorframe. The world grew into a faint blip as I was forced back into the recesses of my mind. There, a lone figure manifested. Slowly, but with intent.


    ¡°How long will it take this time?¡± I asked, the words echoing across the nothingness.


    ¡°Twenty or so minutes. A queen has to stretch her wings and remind the world its place every now and then.¡± The figure spoke, revealing more of its form as it sat upon a throne of countless souls. Leather-bound wings sprung from her back, asserting their dominance over all below her reign, her benevolence. Purple eyes, that of which souls pledged themselves to, demanding the most from all which met their gaze. Her gray skin with a blue undertone was only flawed by the scars of ethereal-wrapped chains as they slowly moved, spanning her body. Upon her wrists, ankles, neck, and chest, long-forgotten seals were inscribed on the flesh. ¡°Admiration only gets you so far in my heart, little Daegon.¡±


    ¡°You could have warned me this time, before taking over.¡± I spoke, snapping back.


    ¡°Warn you, take control quicker, let you handle things, stop bothering you, tell you more about situations. Oh, you¡¯re just an absolute wreck of demands once things quiet down.¡± She spoke, standing up and walking forward. She was the same height as I, but that didn¡¯t stop her from playfully looking down on me every time. ¡°Do you want my power, my help, or not?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re residing within me, I demand it.¡± I said glaring back. It wasn¡¯t a question, but more of her reaffirming the obvious. Toying with the emotions, and keeping things the way she liked. But that question goes both ways. ¡°You need my help, right?¡±


    ¡°Show me more of your fangs little one. Maybe you¡¯ll be able to borrow more than my power.¡± Her expression changed as she brushed a hand over my face, a seriousness I¡¯ve felt many times before. Those eyes enraptured my senses, demanding more from my very soul. Not for her, but for me. In the recesses of my mind, time was meaningless. She let go of my face, and broke her gaze. Things seemed to be fluttering back to reality. ¡°Alright, Daegon. I¡¯ll let you have this one. Perhaps these events are exactly what I¡­ Well, what we needed you to go through.¡±


    ¡°<u>Your Queen shall depart for now. Don¡¯t give him too many problems. I am always listening, after all.¡±</u> I felt the final words leave my lips as I popped back to my senses. We were back in the confines of the shop, its familiar appearance a stark contrast to the job we just completed. Jaskrim, Baku, and even Lord were all present. I couldn¡¯t make out much past that as my senses were slowly coming back.


    ¡°H-how long...¡± I began asking as my head rang something fierce, forcing me to wince and cover my ears momentarily. The more she stayed out, the longer it took me to recover from it. This definitely wasn¡¯t the worst, but was up there. Normally it would take several hours to feel better, but perhaps I was getting used to it as well. It seemed the pain was already draining away. I recomposed myself, noticing all eyes to be on me. Except for Lord¡¯s, who was more interested on something outside behind me. It was odd, but everyone seemed to glow indescribably.


    ¡°Well, that was fun. Later.¡± Lord¡¯s casual tone cut through the moment as he walked past me, offering a light pat on my shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll hold up my end of the bargain as promised.¡±


    ¡°I should get going as well. My partner will be furious it took so long.¡± Jaskrim announced as the door¡¯s bell gave off a light ring, still visibly concerned as he glanced at me once more before heading towards the door.


    ¡°Hey, Jaskrim. I¡¯m good, I promise. I¡¯ll explain things next time.¡± I reassured him with a forced smile and light laugh. His concern seemed to ease a little, as he smiled back at me. Baku grumbled something unintelligible before retreating into the back of the store.


    ¡°Good. I don¡¯t want to lose my favorite partner again, even if they are safe.¡± Jaskrim said sincerely before turning back around to leave. I let out a sigh as the bell rang, signaling Jaskrim¡¯s departure. The store seemed restored to its usual peace, and I looked around.


    ¡°¡®Lest one¡¯s worth be snatched by another¡¯¡­ You really have a way with words¡­¡± I mused aloud. Despite knowing I couldn¡¯t linger, it felt right to indulge browsing for a moment. The glass cases on the wall, bathed in a mixture of store light and moonlight, held an assortment of peculiar treasures. Daggers, trinkets, and baubles of all sizes gleamed with meticulous care. Perhaps it was the lingering effect from the transformation, but these items felt different. Even just looking at them, I could tell there was an aura of significance beyond their physical appearance. Lost in contemplation, a movement caught my eye. A figure, unassuming yet intriguing, standing near the door. It didn¡¯t appear hostile; rather, it seemed to be patiently waiting.


    <hr>


    ¡°Hey there Daegon, so about getting luc- WHAT THE FUCK.¡± Valia¡¯s scream cut through the air as her eyes glanced up from her phone to meet mine. She took several steps back, her wide-eyed gaze fixed on me as if I were some sort of apparition. Despite her attempt to blend in with her baggy hoodie and jeans, her unmistakable wolf-like features, including her tail swaying behind her, and intense blue eyes made her stand out even in¡­ This rather dark area¡­? I glanced around briefly and realized the outside store light, usually flickering, was completely off.


    ¡°What?¡± I responded, perplexed. I ran a hand over my face, checking for any abnormalities. Nothing was amiss. Perhaps she simply hadn¡¯t expected to see me, despite addressing me moments before. I couldn¡¯t say I was particularly thrilled about her presence either, especially given all that transpired in the last couple days.


    ¡°What the fuck happened to your eyes!?¡± She said recomposing herself and edging unsettlingly close. ¡°Not close enough.¡± ¡°Hold on I¡¯ll take a picture.¡±


    Snap! Valia flipped her phone around showing me the image, revealing my altered eyes. ¡°They suit you very well, little Daegon. I thought a little valuable gift was in order, being such a strong and dependable soul that you¡¯re growing into.¡±


    ¡°Uh, dude, you¡¯re freaking me out just staring like that.¡± Valia interjected, snapping twice in front of my face breaking my trance. ¡°Oh shit, you can just turn those off? Wait do it again.¡±


    ¡°What the hell do you mean?¡± I shook off the lingering effects, noticing the darkness enveloping us once more. I could barely make out Valia¡¯s figure in front of me. ¡°Just focus.¡± With another blink, clarity returned, and even Valia seemed to emit a faint, nearly indistinguishable glow. There was definitely some strain from using her eyes, but it felt more natural than my own. Valia appeared mesmerized by my newfound ability I acquired. Amidst the curiosity, a question crossed my mind. ¡°Why are you even here?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I had to pick up mail. Zylas is uh, busy.¡± Valia explained, holding a rather blue envelope similar to the one we delivered earlier.


    ¡°Huh¡­ Well, I¡¯m going home.¡± I replied after a moment. Even though it resembled the mail I initially delivered, I had no intention of getting involved.


    ¡°Hey wait a sec, you¡¯re not going to leave poor little me¡ª¡± Valia began, but I turned and glared at her, the tone of her words echoing a past encounter that filled me with both fear and anger. She flinched before timidly walking up next to me. ¡°Sorry... Hey look, how about this.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in anything you have to offer.¡± I stated firmly before turning to walk away. I could sense her following behind me in silence, but I didn''t dwell on it. As we continued, the road transitioned into a wooded street, and a cold breeze swept past us.


    ¡°Let me crash with you tonight, I¡¯ll head back in the morning¡­ I don¡¯t do that well in the dark, or the cold...¡± Valia''s voice held a hint of vulnerability as she spoke, almost like she was mustering the courage to ask.


    ¡°What do you mean you can¡¯t see that well? Aren¡¯t werewolves¡¯ nocturnal hunters?¡± I inquired, feeling a sense of unease in the air. Valia drew closer as I stopped, her voice soft as she leaned towards my ear.


    ¡°I¡¯m only half¡­¡± Her whisper hung in the air before she pulled away shyly. It seemed like she was revealing a significant secret or taboo information. How could someone be half were- Oooh¡­ ¡°You didn¡¯t think that was possible, did you little one?¡± I¡¯m sure my face showed a wide range of emotions as Valia lightly laughed. ¡°I¡¯ll answer all the questions you have, even not relating to me, if you let me crash.¡±


    ¡°I-Well¡­¡± I hesitated, considering my options. Learning more about supernatural beings was one of my goals, and that included a situation like Valia¡¯s. She didn¡¯t strike me as someone who would lie either. If anything, I¡¯d say she was a bit too honest. ¡°Fine.¡±


    Her eyes lit up with excitement, and for a moment, it seemed like she might pounce on me. After a few minutes, we arrived at my house just off the road. I unlocked the bottom lock and pushed the heavy door open. Flicking on both lights, my barren abode sprung to life.


    ¡°So uh, I don¡¯t have much.¡± I began, leaning against the wall and subtly obscuring the hole and the mostly-cleaned bloodstains. Valia walked past me, her expression a mix of disappointment and curiosity. I noticed the small backpack she was carrying, as if she were ready for an adventure. ¡°Kitchen in front, bathroom in the back of it. The living room doubles as the bedroom.¡±


    ¡°W-woow. You live a uh, life of¡­ Luxury here¡­¡± Valia remarked, her tone tinged with sarcasm as she observed the lack of furnishings. She pulled her hood down, revealing her wolf-like ears as they ¡®flooped¡¯ upward, and made her way into the living room. I took the opportunity to drop the bars onto the door.


    ¡°Sorry, just a precaution. I¡¯ve had some nasty run-ins before.¡± I explained, demonstrating how easily the bars could be removed. I could sense Valia''s gaze lingering on the wall behind me, where the hole was. She glanced around before settling onto the couch, placing her backpack at her feet. ¡°Go ahead and get comfortable, I need to wash up.¡±


    <hr>


    It felt weird, knowing another creature¡­ No, another being was in the house. Normally, I would have prepared some food from what I picked up, but Valia¡¯s unexpected presence threw me off. I probably had enough ingredients for some garlic noodles, but my supplies were lacking in the meat and vegetable department. After turning the shower off and drying myself, I examined the multitude of bruises that still adorned my body. The area where Zylas had kicked me was mostly healed, but it had definitely left a mark where the ribs were previously broken. A lot of the other nicks and cuts were still in the process of healing, which was a bit of a relief. Sighing, I got dressed and headed towards the kitchen.


    ¡°You uh, like noodles?¡± I called out as I opened the door, still drying my hair and scanning the kitchen. There was an unopened box of noodles and a few other ingredients that I could use to spice up the dish. Since I had a guest, I might as well go all out. Valia didn¡¯t respond, but I noticed the faint scent of incense wafting from the other room. Poking my head in, I saw her lying face-first on the couch, her legs slightly curled into the cushions. She was probably cold, I thought, as I walked over to one of the chests on the far wall.


    Opening the chest, I pulled out an old but trusty thermal blanket. As I made my way back to the couch, I noticed the source of the incense smell ¨C Valia had set up three small bowl-like holders next to some of my travel supplies. Unfolding the thermal blanket, I tossed it over both her and the couch in a single fluid motion. If that didn¡¯t keep her warm, I wasn¡¯t sure what would. Quietly, I returned to the kitchen and began the process of preparing some grub, getting everything ready.


    <hr>


    Finishing up, I could hear Valia shifting on the couch, indicating she was awake again. The cooking wasn¡¯t going to win any awards, but I was rather proud of it. I had found some canned sausages hiding in the back of the pantry and ended up frying them into delicious bite-sized portions.


    ¡°Noodles and meat if you¡¯re interested.¡± I announced, walking over with the entire pot in hand. Valia seemed to have rolled herself in the blanket and was engrossed in her phone. It struck me as odd that she was using such a device despite being a different being. Nevertheless, she noticed me approaching and sat up, her eyes fixed on what I held.


    ¡°That actually smells good¡­ Are you sharing?¡± she asked eagerly, scooching closer as I sat down. While I didn¡¯t have extra plates or bowls, I did have an unhealthy number of utensils. I passed her a larger spoon, and she quickly took a bite. It took a moment, but then she squealed with approval.


    <hr>


    ¡°That was just what I needed.¡± Valia said sprawling across the couch, letting out happy coos. She ended up eating most of it, but I wasn¡¯t mad. Honestly, I felt happy. As I washed the dishes, I realized I had a bit of a predicament I was putting off until later, and it was now later. With only one decent sleeping surface, I wasn¡¯t going to deny it to Valia. I rummaged through the chests and dressers, finding another two blankets and a pillow I had stashed away. Valia was cuddled up, looking at her phone with her head facing the doorway. It was kind of funny, since that¡¯s how I normally slept. I decided to position myself with my back to the middle of the couch. I had a blanket under me for comfort and wrapped myself in the other. I was a bit unsure about using Valia as support for the pillow, so I just kept it on my chest.


    ¡°It might not be tomorrow, but I¡¯ll definitely follow up on asking you questions.¡± I said with a stretch and yawn.


    ¡°Mhmm. Yeah, that¡¯s fine.¡± Valia responded, shifting about to get comfortable. She moved a rather large amount, which went on for several moments as I closed my eyes. Then, it felt like she sat up, rustling about more with a plop before there was another abrupt pause. Curious, I looked behind me. She had wiggled herself, wrapped in a blanket, deeper into the couch cushions.


    ¡°Are you that cold?¡± I asked, puzzled by her actions.


    ¡°N-no, I¡¯m fine.¡± Valia said, burying her head into the blanket. She lied as easily as she breathed. I sighed and stood up, hoping the blanket I wrapped myself in would be sufficient.


    ¡°Alright, sit up. I¡¯ll get you another.¡± I said simply. Valia unburied herself and sat up with a slight smirk, dropping the thermal around her. I placed my blanket around her as she wrapped herself lightly in it. She seemed content, so I turned around to hopefully find a final blanket hidden away for myself.


    Before I could take a full step, I felt two furry arms wrap around my stomach and pull me back, wrapping me in the blanket she just surrounded herself in. My heartrate tripled as I froze up from such a sudden interaction. I was conflicted; on one hand, I was still incredibly terrified of her kind, and this sudden closeness has my mind racing. But on the other hand¡­ Was I really afraid of Valia? She was practically purring with her arms wrapped around me. It was an odd feeling; one I hadn¡¯t felt for a long time. It wasn¡¯t the same, but it definitely wasn¡¯t wrong.


    A small flurry of emotions shot through me again, but my mind was still sore from days before. I was tired, too much to deny just this small bit of unbiased warmth. I felt her squeeze slightly tighter as she nuzzled my back. I was emotionally drained and mentally exhausted. Our needs were probably different, but it seemed the end result would be¡­


    ¡°Fine¡­ You win.¡±


    Valia seemed to hum with a bit of glee, as she wrapped us both in the thermal blanket.

 6-Ingrained Turmoil

    6-Ingrained Turmoil


    -Interim, 6/a- Starts Early Morning next day.


    I laid on the couch, hesitant to disrupt the newfound tranquility. My mind, unburdened for the first time in ages, found solace in the warmth enveloping me. There was no urge to move, no worries to trouble my thoughts. The comforting embrace surpassed the coziness of my normal slumber. Though the armrest caused a slight discomfort, it was bearable with the aid of a small pillow. A strange fabric covered my face, its pleasant scent foreign to my usual sleeping environment. Could this be a dream? Doubts lingered, but I chose to embrace the serenity, pulling the warmth closer. My right hand explored the soft, well-cared-for surface, its comforting warmth seeping into my senses. It felt almost human, like a plush toy wrapped in fur. The mysteries of the mind never ceased to amaze; this must surely be her doing, a peculiar form of respite from yesterday. I awaited her inevitable trick to dispel this illusion and jolt me back to the harshness of the waking world... Meanwhile, my left hand found itself nestled between the cushions of the couch, encountering a handful of fluff or perhaps strands of hair. Though it possessed a substantial core, the sensation of running my fingers across it was undeniably pleasurable.


    The entire mass shifted, and I felt a few sharp objects gracefully trace a scar on my back, while another was precariously close, tucked inside my pants line and twitching. Sensation spread around one of my legs, like a slow vice-grip tightening. I blinked open my eyes, assessing the situation. A deep, mesmerizing blue eye met mine wearily. It was Valia... Her head rested just below mine, nestled between my shoulder and raised head.


    ¡°mmmm¡­ five more minutes¡­¡± she whimpered, drawing me closer and closing her eyes. Maybe this was actually a nightmare... No, the memories of last night came flooding back. The thermal blanket enveloped us entirely from head to toe, but there was something else partially covering my face. Carefully, I moved my hand from her back and removed the fabric from my face. I usually wore shorts to regulate my body temperature at night, but I couldn''t recall taking my shirt off. ¡°Hey¡­ Slide down a bit more¡­¡±


    Unsure how to respond, I complied, and she did the same. She ended up shifting me onto my back and was now fully lying on top of me, her arms wrapped around my chest and her hands resting on my shoulders to keep warm. She wasn''t as heavy as Zylas, but definitely denser than the average person. A low rumble of contentment escaped her, and I blinked in disbelief. This was not a situation I ever imagined being in, and I couldn''t think of a way to escape. I think she noticed my unease, as she opened her eyes ever so slightly.


    ¡°Mmm¡­ Hearts going faster¡­ I guess I can wake up¡­¡± she grumbled, tensing up and stretching. It finally clicked for me¡ªthat was her shirt.


    "W-Why the hell are you¡­" I stammered, feeling flustered and unable to tear my dancing gaze away from her. She let out a rather large yawn as she fully sat up, stretching and leaving nothing to the imagination as the thermal blanket was pushed aside. The morning light streamed through the windows, reluctantly illuminating the scene before me. Every fiber of my being screamed this was a hard pass¡­ Or at least, that''s what I wanted to think.


    ¡°I was really hoping we could continue where we left off last night¡­ But you¡¯re way too comfortable.¡± She spoke, leaning back over to me and placing her head onto my chest, tail sticking in the air. It wasn¡¯t until then I noticed my shirt was pushed almost all the way up, as she brushed against it. I quickly scooted back and sat up and looked her over; she was completely naked. It was hard to distinguish fur from clothing in my mind, but the pants on the floor next to us guaranteed my thought. ¡°Mmm¡­ No fun¡­ I just got comfy is all, and you¡¯re such a good warm body¡­ No wonder Zylas was out for so long. I could sleep with you every night.¡±


    ¡°Why- I... Just¡­ Get dressed.¡± I stammered, my brain a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts as Valia sat up, smirking next to me. She definitely wanted to get closer, but it felt like she had pushed enough boundaries for now.


    ¡°Oh I will, it¡¯s way too cold in here. Just look¡ª¡± Valia said playfully, but I quickly turned away.


    ¡°Nope, no thanks I¡¯m good I¡¯m going to uh, shower.¡± I said hastily, standing up and heading directly to the bathroom. I could hear her laughter as a small thump came from the other room. Realizing I had showered last night, I elected to just clean up the bathroom until her rustling was done.


    ¡°Alright Daegon, you¡¯re safe I swear.¡± Valia''s reassuring words echoed through the household. Carefully, I emerged, bracing for the worst. To my relief, she was fully clothed, wearing a baggy hoodie. ¡°You have anything planned today?¡±


    My stomach growled, there was definitely one thing on my mind. ¡°Food, then I¡¯m free for the day.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Food? I know a little spot we could sneak into.¡± Valia suggested, her eyes fixed on mine, searching for any sign of agreement. I didn¡¯t know of any place that served¡­ Wait.


    ¡°Can you¡­ Transform¡­?¡± I asked pondering. From the first time I saw her, and every time since, she always looked the same.


    ¡°I can transform into your-¡­ Aah, no. I can¡¯t. Special gift from my father.¡± Valia began, a bit suggestively, before switching to a more light-hearted tone. ¡°But I do know of a place we both can go, I swear!¡±


    <hr>


    -Chapter start: August 4<sup>th</sup>, 6:30am


    Navigating through twists and turns, down many alleys and back-roads, we found ourselves walking in the daylight, passing others who were simply enjoying their time. The route we took was peculiar and didn''t attract much attention, despite delving deeper into the bastion. Even more surprising was the lack of interest from those who did notice us. While most glanced over, they didn''t seem to care.


    ¡°See? Nobody minds at all, so long as I¡¯m with you.¡± Valia said, hugging my arm closely and humming softly. She was much too close, but after last night, it felt a bit beyond me to wave her off. If you had told me a month ago that I¡¯d be walking with a questionable, overly friendly supernatural being wrapped around my arm, I¡¯d have assumed you were on drugs and walked away. Valia squeezed my arm tighter than I liked, causing me to flinch. She quickly let go, noticing my discomfort. ¡°Oh sorry! Sorry¡­ Why are you so bruised up by the way...? Even your body has some wicked scars.¡±


    I hesitated, glancing at the group of people on the other side of the street who seemed to be staring a bit but otherwise didn¡¯t mind our presence. Eventually, I decided to share, taking off my jacket and lifting up my shirt to reveal the specific marks. "That one was from a window; I broke a bone here. Falling from that window caused these marks, this was Zylas, this entire side was also Zylas, and that was from a wendigo. I can¡¯t believe I got away from it¡­"


    ¡°Wait wait wait, Zylas did that?¡± Valia exclaimed, carefully touching the massive bruised area covering my left side. The worst of it was fading, but the discoloration lingered. She turned me slightly, her hand now covering the continued bruise on my back.


    ¡°Oh, yeah. First interaction with her. Anyways from there, I think I still got some claw marks above it from the wendigo. And a lot of others I¡¯ve honestly forgotten about, harder to keep track of the ones on my back...¡± I explained, feeling her hand tracing various little marks before she quickly pulled my shirt back down as I turned back around.


    ¡°You¡¯re a mess¡­¡± Valia said quietly, her tone almost bashful.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, just comes with the job¡­ Well, my old one.¡± I replied, slipping my jacket back on. She seemed momentarily stunned, examining it before quickly lifting my shirt again, as if to confirm something.


    ¡°This jacket looks like it¡¯s barely holding together¡­ This is your travel one?¡± Valia asked, her tone ¡®matter-of-fact¡¯ rather than questioning.


    ¡°Yeah, I patch it up every now and then. It¡¯s cheaper than buying a new one.¡± I explained as I resumed walking. It was true; this once nice leather jacket had been with me for years. Without it, who knows how many pieces of glass or other sharp objects would have found their way across my skin, not to mention the cold or windy days outside. The thing was definitely tattered, but through some minor leatherwork and patching, the inside was completely solid and ready for winter. There was probably enough material for two jackets, but the extra weight never bothered me.


    <hr>


    We walked for another ten or so minutes, engaging in some small talk. Valia explained that her parents were indeed a human and a werewolf. It''s quite remarkable, I thought, the level of confidence and determination it must have taken for a man to win over a werewolf. She mentioned that her mother was almost always in her full form, slightly larger than Zylas, while her father, a man from outside the walls, tended to keep to himself and didn''t speak much. Although he used to live within the walls, he eventually chose to embrace the harsh landscape outside. Despite her mostly solitary early life, Valia seemed to have formed numerous connections with various beings and humans alike.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I moved in under Zylas, it feels a lot more at home out there¡­ Oh, hey, we¡¯re here.¡± Valia ended, pointing towards a rather large, seemingly devoid brick building. It was a bit odd, as there were quite a few places around it that were active, but it seemed to be unrenovated and boarded up. She pulled me to the back of it where you could walk down to a basement-level entrance. A few knocks, and the door quietly opened.


    ¡°Should I uh... Prepare myself for anything?¡± I asked a bit nervously. Valia paused for a moment before giving a smirk.


    ¡°You survived Zylas and a Wendigo, and slept with a naked werewolf¡­ I think you¡¯ll be fine in a Haven.¡± Valia stated as her voice trailed off into the building.


    ¡±Wqs! X pljkcwd z mqhgjnql zczxm, dwxy jmq xy nxmq dwjkcw yj mj vkmms pkyxmqyy!¡±


    The inside resembled one of those old club rooms, with a massive open area for people to mingle and numerous small rooms surrounding it, each with small tables for sitting or eating¡­


    ¡°And what¡¯s your name darling.¡± A sultry voice caught me off guard, emanating from my left. Before me stood a figure with a distinctly male upper body, leading into a massive snake tail. Glancing back up, I noticed their hair was tied back in a ponytail, and a mask covered their eyes. ¡°Oh come closer let me get a good look at you. You¡¯re a friend of Valia¡¯s I won¡¯t bite too hard.¡±


    ¡°Daegon, and¡­ Yeah, sure¡­¡± I replied, feeling quite thrown off by the encounter. This was... a Gorgon? I had been introduced to a couple of them a few days after the Zylas incident, when I finally regained consciousness. That''s when I got a crash course in the supernatural thanks to Lord. It turned out that many of them had a knack for medicine and healing, and their gaze had numerous medical benefits when applied carefully. I wasn¡¯t so surprised by the being before me, which I think made its intrigue grow even more. Since Gorgons limited their eyesight, their other senses were heightened, making them particularly perceptive. Plus, they could apparently detect heat sources even with their eyes closed. I approached and held out my hand, palm side up.


    ¡°Ooh, you are such a gentleman. It¡¯s rare for one such as you to meet a gorgon before. You can call me Ronnie, that¡¯s what the lot have named me.¡± Ronnie spoke warmly as he clasped his hands around mine, pausing for a moment to feel my pulse. ¡°Come now, you¡¯re good with me but we got to get you introduced to the others.¡±


    He led me across the floor to a table where two other individuals were seated. Surprisingly, they looked human. One was a younger male, probably in his twenties, and the other was a rather shy girl roughly the same age. We went around to a few others as Ronnie introduced me to them, though most after the first two were obviously supernatural. I felt my social battery draining after the third group introduction before Valia stopped by.


    ¡°Oh look at you, getting warm with Ronnie. Here I thought you¡¯d be petrified with fear!¡± Valia quipped with a playful grin and laugh. Ronnie joined in with a light-hearted chuckle as he slithered next to her.


    ¡°You¡¯ve always had a bite to you. Had a howling good time with the others as always? Oh, I should go check on our other guests. I¡¯ll leave you and the new chew toy alone.¡± Ronnie spoke teasingly before quickly making his exit. Valia chuckled and avoided looking directly at me until he was out of earshot.


    ¡°Hey Daegon, come on back for a minute. I got someone who wants to meet you.¡± Valia said, gesturing toward a room to the right. My stomach rumbled, but I decided to go along with it. As we passed by a bar, she reached over and grabbed two glass bottles of a blue liquid. I hadn''t noticed before, but she was now dressed in much more comfortable attire. I felt a bit embarrassed for paying such close attention, as her clothes slightly revealed her stomach.¡­


    ¡°This should hold you over, we¡¯ll eat after I introduce ya.¡± she assured me, handing me one of the bottles.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    ¡°Who wants to talk with me?¡± I asked, popping the cap off the bottle and taking a sip. It didn''t have much of a smell, but it tasted like grapes. There was a moment of silence as we walked toward a back room with a slightly larger-than-normal door. Valia paused in front of the door, seeming a bit on edge, but I couldn''t tell why.


    ¡°Do you think you could¡­ Maybe act like¡­ N-nevermind it wouldn¡¯t be believable¡­ Just be honest with him.¡± Valia said regaining her composure, running a hand over her face pushing her hair back. She gave me a rather confident smile, before wrapping an arm around me and opening the door. She was normally hands on, but this was definitely forced. ¡°Hey there Dio, I brought the newbie!¡±


    ¡°So you did.¡± A rather stern voice boomed from the room. It was a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere of the party we had just left, almost resembling an executive office. A tall man sat behind a formidable desk, engrossed in reading several documents. Despite my efforts, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to meet his gaze fully. Being in his presence felt like stepping into the heart of a lion¡¯s den, and it was clear that this was his domain.


    ¡°Tell me Daegon, what gives you meaning?¡±


    He straightened a stack of documents before laying them down on his desk, and as the door slowly closed behind us, Valia and I took seats next to each other. She edged her chair closer, but I found it difficult to look directly at him, as if his presence commanded reverence. Glancing at Valia, I noticed she didn''t seem to share my struggle, although she appeared somewhat nervous. Steeling myself, I forced my full attention forward.


    ¡°Holy shit.¡± were about the only words I could muster as I took in the imposing figure before me. Disregarding the nearly foot of height difference between us in his favor, there was an undeniable air of authority about him that demanded respect. He appeared to be in his early sixties, yet there was a vitality to him that defied his age; one would swear he wasn''t a day over forty. His long hair and beard blazed a deep red, contrasting sharply with his well-fitted deep blue suit, which hugged his muscular frame. Adorned with bronze and gold rings, each inscribed with foreign words, he exuded an aura of power. His gray eyes bore into mine with a powerful intensity, as if locking onto its prey.


    ¡°Well, definitely not the worst response I¡¯ve ever received.¡± he remarked with a slight huff before returning his attention to the documents before him. ¡°You have a spine, and you¡¯re not willing to back down so easily. Your external demeanor hides your internal resolve rather well.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve had some experiences¡­¡± I replied nervously, feeling my leg tremble slightly. A reassuring touch from Valia, her hand resting briefly on my leg as she leaned forward, helped steady my nerves. With a hidden smile, she began to toy with the Newton¡¯s Cradle on his desk.


    ¡°Indeed, you have. Tell me Daegon, what are your intentions with young Valia here?¡± He inquired, shifting his gaze to another document. I faltered, unsure of how to interpret the question. Valia leaned back with a nervous laugh of her own, withdrawing her hand from my leg.


    ¡°Oh, Daegon doesn¡¯t have any intentions. He¡¯s li¡ª¡± She was interrupted by Dio straightening his papers once again and placing them down, his gaze fixed on her before turning to me.


    ¡°Everyone has intentions. If not for Valia, then maybe with those here? Are you after someone in particular? Perhaps the establishment as a whole?¡± Dio asserted with a commanding tone. There was no humor in his voice, and I sensed that this wouldn''t end well if I didn''t have a valid response.


    ¡°I, uh¡­ Tagged along for some food¡­¡± I stated awkwardly, glancing away and back as my stomach rumbled. He seemed taken aback by such an unexpected answer. ¡°V-Valia and I are friends, and she sort of ate a lot of my food last night. So, she said she¡¯d treat me to breakfast¡­¡±


    ¡°Daegon you little-!¡± Valia said in a flustered tone before a deep-hearted laugh ruptured forth from Dio.


    ¡°Another soul who¡¯s a bit too honest for this world, like you Valia¡­ Go then, you¡¯re welcome any time Daegon. But I will be watching you.¡± Dio declared, regaining his composure and serious tone. He extended his hand for a handshake, his hand dwarfing mine. As I shook his hand, I couldn''t shake the feeling that he wasn''t as human as he appeared.


    <hr>


    We returned to the club¡¯s floor and Ronnie kindly placed an order for us as we settled away from the main thoroughfare. The background music was soft and soothing, almost entrancing. Apparently, this establishment was called "Dionysus'' Haven," one of the first places in Eerie''s Respite where both supernatural beings and humans could mingle freely. It was a hotspot for young folks from both worlds, often invited by word of mouth. While open to everyone, it seemed that older individuals harbored grudges or approached the space with more contractual arrangements in mind. That said: Ronnie, Dio, and a few others took it upon themselves to handle any troublemakers, maintaining the venue as a safer spot compared to others. It also served as a hub for various transactions. Nevertheless, at its core, it remained a nightclub, providing entertainment and socializing opportunities. Valia mentioned that she had lived here as a resident for quite some time after leaving her home. She had encountered Dio under mysterious circumstances, and they had offered her a job and a place to stay. The increased activity compared to her earlier memories didn''t necessarily bother her; if anything, it added more vibrancy to the place.


    ¡°I wonder if Jaskrim would like this place¡­¡± I mused quietly, spearing my fork into the runny eggs, their golden yolks oozing out slowly. Valia perked up at my words, busy with her own generous portion of food.


    ¡°A friend of yours?¡± she inquired, her gaze shifting over to me with interest. I realized I hadn''t shared much about my life with her, or anyone for that matter besides Luna¡­ But then again, there wasn''t much to tell.


    ¡°Yeah, a co-worker for the delivery service. He¡¯s a really friendly¡­ Armored¡­ Bear¡­?¡± I hesitated, trying to find the right words to describe him. ¡°He''s about twice my size and quite intimidating, but he''s saved my life on the job more than once. Plus, he''s a huge foodie. Thankfully, he doesn''t mind that I''m human, which has made this whole... transition... learning experience a lot easier. I think he mentioned having a family, but it was just in passing, so I''m not entirely sure...¡± I explained, juggling my descriptions while keeping up with my meal. The toast offered a satisfying crunch to my hastily made sandwich of runny eggs and ham.


    ¡°Mmm¡­ He probably couldn¡¯t just walk up to this place without drawing too much attention... I could probably work something out if I meet him before-hand though¡­ Since this entire place works on trustworthy referrals.¡± Valia remarked, her words flowing between quick mouthfuls of food at an impressive pace. It made sense, considering the delicate balance of humans and other beings that frequented this place.


    ¡°Glad to know you trust me¡­¡± I murmured aloud, my voice trailing off as I took bites of my meal. Valia paused abruptly, fixing me with a sharp glare that caught me off guard. ¡°I mean, uh, of course you would I just uh¡­ Not that I¡¯ve earned it, I just¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah yeah I get it¡­ I¡¯m not exactly the shining appearance of quality myself.¡± Valia spoke with a hint of resentment. Memories of my encounters with Zylas flashed across my mind, and I instinctively recoiled inwardly. Letting out a low sigh, I glanced around to ensure we were alone.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m going to be honest with you...¡± I began, the weight of my emotions making it difficult to articulate my thoughts. Valia turned her full attention towards me, her gaze holding more significance than my words warranted. ¡°For most of my life, until a little over a month ago¡­ I¡¯ve almost exclusively had life or death situations with your-¡­ No, with the supernatural... I-..¡±


    ¡°I know, Luna told me a bit¡­¡± Valia interjected softly, setting her fork down and wearing a somber expression. ¡°She told me a little bit about what happened between you and Zylas, and that talk you two had. She¡¯s a very emotionally driven being, and has a knack for... I don¡¯t know how to explain it, but she senses things a lot differently about others. Even when I¡¯m kind of a bitch, she¡¯d still make sure I was alright. Fucker hit me with a cast-iron donkey, then came apologizing with gifts to make sure I was alright. So how she talked about you¡­ Well, I felt I¡¯d try to be a little helpful.¡±


    It was a lot to process, Valia''s gentle acknowledgment reaching deeper than I had intended. I glanced at my hand again, finding no contract. There hadn''t been one for days. While I didn''t know the details of Valia''s contract, if she meant harm, she had plenty of opportunities to act on it by now. Valia seemed to want to say more, but was at a loss for words and returned to eating slowly. Her intentions were genuine, yet something within me resisted fully accepting them. They weren''t sugar-coated words; they were simply sincere. It felt like I was grappling with my own instincts, much like in my conversations with Zylas or even L¡­ or even¡­


    ¡°Thanks, Valia¡­ You are helping.¡± I murmured softly, offering a slight smile. Valia''s eyes lit up, and she returned the smile, though she didn''t say anything, choosing instead to focus on finishing her meal with gusto. I couldn''t ignore my survival instincts, but I also couldn''t let them stifle my ability to grow. Pausing, I reflected on all my interactions with Valia.


    ¡°I, think I actually owe ya one.¡± I admitted, contemplating the depth of her support.


    ¡°Oh? Well, why not let me crash whenever then?¡± Valia said, in a scarily quick response.


    ¡°I-uh¡­¡± I faltered, unsure how to respond to her sudden proposition, feeling a surge of unease mingling with my thoughts. Now, alongside the turmoil within me, red flags began to wave, signaling caution in my mind.


    Valia''s earnest attempt to negotiate a fair exchange caught me off guard. She presented her case with sincerity, listing the benefits she believed she could offer in exchange for a place to stay. Despite my initial inclination to refuse, a part of me wavered, unsure of the reason behind my sudden acquiescence.


    ¡°Look at it this way. You¡¯re warm, I¡¯m soft, cute, and cuddly. You make good food, I¡¯ll provide you with as much information as you need, or find it out for you. Your house is reasonably close to a lot of places I used to frequent¡­ And¡­ I¡¯ll bring you food to cook...? I¡¯ll, uh, help liven up the place too.¡± Valia proposed, her enthusiasm waning as she sensed my hesitation. She genuinely seemed to be putting effort into making this arrangement seem appealing.


    I rubbed my temples, grappling with conflicting thoughts. Eventually, against my better judgment, I found myself agreeing, albeit with conditions.


    ¡°I¡¯ll agree¡­ But I hold the right to call it off if it¡¯s too much. You, this, I- I shouldn¡¯t be agreeing to this. Every part of me says no, but I¡¯ll give it a chance. Just, give me space when I need it alright?¡± I conceded, my hand covering half my face as I looked at Valia. Her expression shifted from anticipation to utter bewilderment, clearly not expecting my astonishing amenability. If I weren¡¯t so perplexed by my own words, I might have found her reaction amusing.


    ¡°I guess, we should¡­ Get a Contract in order?¡± Valia suggested tentatively, delicately broaching the subject. ¡°Small, small Contract. Not Infernal. So, you¡¯re aware if I want to intend to break it or end it at any time. No life-staking stuff. It¡¯s called a Shrieker, or a Shrieking Contract. It¡¯ll inform you at any time I intend to break it.¡±


    <hr>


    Valia and I returned to Dio''s office to formalize the agreement we had reached. Dio proposed a more balanced contract that would benefit both of us, although he admitted it didn''t have a specific name. The contract manifested as an intricate and beautiful pink tree tattooed on my forearm, while Valia received a similar pattern on her fur in the corresponding location. Unlike the Shrieker, this contract allowed us to designate specific locations and would notify us if either of us breached those boundaries. Additionally, it enabled us to send warm sensations to each other as a form of long-distance communication. If either of us violated the terms, the leaves of the tree would begin to fall and wither. Despite the complexity of the contract, Dio assured us it was a common practice and proceeded to enact it, a process that took nearly half an hour.


    ¡°It¡¯s quite beautiful though.¡± I remarked as I admired the intricate design on my forearm. Valia examined her contract, placing a hand on it, causing a soft, warm glow to emanate from mine. Reciprocating the gesture, I observed the same warm glow radiating from her.


    With a smile, I slid my sleeve back down, feeling a sense of connection and assurance. Valia then placed her hand on the doorway leading out of Dio''s office, and for a brief moment, it seemed to shudder. She closed her eyes, focusing intently.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± I inquired, intrigued by Valia''s actions, which reminded me how Jaskrim and I use the Traveler''s runes.


    ¡°Well, this door is a gateway, and it can link to others. If Zylas and Ainai set things up properly, we¡¯ll be able to walk through to The Den¡­ You have to clearly picture the other gateway, and it generally takes an answer from the other side. So, in stressful situations your thoughts could open a door elsewhere, and it could get pretty ugly if you cross into somethings domain that way.¡± Valia explained, her eyes remaining closed. The shuttering of the gateway ceased, and the door slowly opened. A cold chill ran down my spine, reminding me of yesterday''s mishap. Was that what happened? A second wave of anxiety washed over me as I realized where Valia was heading. Plus, another being similar to Zylas helped build such a thing?


    ¡°Oh, hey Val-¡­ Daegon¡­¡± A very familiar voice interrupted, emanating from a rather large werewolf-like individual. My heart rate skyrocketed; the werewolf looked uncannily similar to Zylas, albeit smaller. Her fur pattern was a dark bronze, unlike Zylas'' reddish hue, but the resemblance was striking. Just as dread threatened to consume me, a warm, calming sensation emanated from my arm, grounding me in the present. Valia didn''t look my way but subtly crossed her arms before addressing the werewolf.


    ¡°Oh, Carna. Yeah it¡¯s just us. Got that mail delivery Zylas needed. Funny enough, Daegon was the one who was the delivery guy. He¡¯s with me anyways so it should be fine if he visits.¡± Valia said casually, producing the blue envelope and waving it gently. Carna sighed lightly and stepped aside to allow Valia to enter. I hesitated, conflicted. I no longer had the contract with Zylas, so would-


    "C''mon, Daegon, you''re basically one of us at this point. If Ainai and Zylas vouch for you, nobody would dare make a move, even if you''re human.¡± Carna said nodding for me to get in, slowly shrinking in size. I honestly expected her to chime in, but nothing¡­ As I crossed the threshold, it felt as though Carna took a deep breath, closing the door behind me. Who was this Ainai, and why were they vouching for me? Slowly, Carna shifted back to her human form, her tattered clothes hanging off her body. The look she shot Valia was a mix of agitation and confusion. Carna growled at Valia in a peculiar manner.


    ¡°Sjkl ynqrr xy zrr jfql wxn, txt sjk dhj yrqqb djcqdwql zrlqzts? X zn njlq gklxjky zy dj dwq WJH dwzm dwq hws, wjmqydrs. Hq zlq blzgdxgzrrs wxy bwjpxz zd dwxy bjxmd.¡±


    Valia let out a rather nervous laugh and turned to face us, as I looked back between her and Carna. I couldn¡¯t make out a word, or have virtually any -focus- I felt my entire body recenter its gravity as my eyes shifted.


    Carna¡¯s aura emanated a refreshing light red, strong and commanding. Valia''s aura, in contrast, was a calm and quiet blue, nearly equal in size to Carna¡¯s red. Valia was about to speak, but her words caught in her throat as she noticed my eyes switching. I turned my gaze back to Carna, who took a step back, clearly analyzing the situation.


    ¡°SO WAIT, he¡¯s not human?¡± Carna exclaimed loudly¡­ In, her native tongue¡­ Did I just lip-read a language I don¡¯t normally understand?


    ¡°Yeah, I wanted to ask him myself but it hasn¡¯t felt like the right time.¡± Valia responded in the same language, her tone thoughtful. ¡°I¡¯m not sure he has full control over whatever that is yet, but at least it looks hot.¡±


    ¡°Valia I don¡¯t think-¡­ Ugh, you¡¯re both more of a headache than I need right now. I¡¯ll go inform everyone that Daegon¡¯s around again. Zylas will want to see you, Valia.¡± Carna said, rubbing her head before turning to leave. She glanced back at me, a small smile playing at her lips. ¡°Glad you¡¯re giving us a second chance, Daegon.¡±

 7-New Beginnings

    7-New Beginnings


    -Chapter Start: August 4<sup>th</sup>, 11:00am.


    In a strange turn of events, I found myself left to my own devices for quite some time in The Den. Despite the bustling activity around me, I remained largely unnoticed by the denizens of the mansion. It seemed they were hesitant or perhaps not bold enough to approach me. Seizing the opportunity, I elected to vagrantly wander the mansion. It took me two whole days to clear out all the valuables from this place, and barely survived getting back to turn them in. Which, brought me to one of the final rooms on the upper left side of the house as I wandered about. The door creaked open as I pushed it further ajar, revealing a dimly lit room. There was an eerie stillness in the air, and it felt deserted. After a cautious knock or two, I entered, the darkness enveloping me like a shroud. My footsteps echoed faintly as I made my way towards the walk-in closet, guided by the faint glow of my phone''s flashlight. Upon reaching the closet, I directed the beam of light towards the exposed ventilation chute. With a determined resolve, I lowered myself onto my back and wriggled into the cramped space, inching forward until I reached my target.


    ¡°Yoink.¡± I muttered, a smirk forming as I reached for the large sack wedged above me in the ventilation shaft. It took some effort to free it, but the promise of more treasures made the struggle worth it. As I grappled with the sack, I couldn''t help but appreciate the cleverness of hiding emergency funds in such a covert spot. It was a contingency plan I never thought I''d need, yet here I was, revisiting the scene of past escapades.


    Once I managed to dislodge the sack, I faced the challenge of maneuvering myself out of the cramped space while burdened with my newfound loot. Nearly out of the vent, I felt¡­ Odd. I decided to -focus- and I could see a pair of legs waiting outside for me. A beautiful, cerulean-green glow showcased the entire body of the individual through the walls despite me not being able to fully see them. The glow seemed to hint at boundless potential, contained within the confines of the figure''s form. It was a sight both breathtaking and enigmatic. Unlike Carna¡¯s whose glow seemed to be rather sparky and freely left off her, or Valia¡¯s that was cool and only flowed seemingly towards me¡­ Why am I thinking of these like this? They didn¡¯t feel this way when I originally viewed them¡­


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t stop on my behalf.¡± Luna spoke a bit tiredly; She didn¡¯t feel that amused by my pause and assessment. In fact, it felt as if she knew exactly what I was looking at. I quickly finished extricating myself from the ventilation shaft and found Luna, adorned in ornate attire but bearing a noticeable air of exhaustion, waiting for me. With a flick, I turned off my phone''s light, no longer needing it, and retrieved the stash of goodies I had hidden away. Turning back to face her, I felt uncertain about how to engage Luna after my conversation with Zylas; in fact, this was the first time I had seen her since then.


    ¡°I-uh¡­ Hi. You, doing alright?¡± I awkwardly ventured, attempting to initiate a conversation. Luna responded with a tired yawn, her eyes displaying a weary, mostly lulling green hue.


    ¡°Mmm¡­ Not as good as you¡¯re doing it seems, come over here.¡± Luna spoke softly, motioning for me to join her as she walked toward a rather peculiar setup in the middle of the room. If I had used her eyes before this, I would have noticed that or the pile of pillows in the corner.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re in my room, why not sit with me.¡± Luna suggested.


    ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t know it was occupied.¡± I apologized carefully as I followed Luna. She knelt on a pillow before the stand and gestured for me to sit down next to her. The shrine appeared rather humble, with an old-looking fox figure seated at the top. It clicked in my mind almost instantly, and I glanced over at Luna, who was silently engaged in prayer. This shrine was dedicated to her, or perhaps meant for her. Yet, there was a somber atmosphere about it.


    I knelt beside Luna and set the sack in front of me. Monetary concerns were no longer pressing, and Luna''s actions had aided me in ways I couldn''t fully quantify. Quietly, I began to rummage through the sack, selecting several items I deemed suitable for what I intended to ask.


    ¡°Hey, Luna¡­¡± I began tentatively.


    ¡°I cannot accept or decline anything related to your thoughts.¡± Luna responded plainly. It was an odd remark, but I grasped its meaning. If this shrine represented Luna''s essence, then its maintenance likely fell under the responsibility of another. This would explain its somewhat neglected state. I continued to sift through the sack, retrieving a few items: solid metal candlesticks to enhance the shrine''s illumination, a sheathed ornamental blade, and a finely crafted pendant. While these items could have fetched a decent sum from the shopkeeper Baku, I found greater satisfaction in using them for this purpose.


    <hr>


    ¡°I don¡¯t quite know how to express what''s on my mind¡­¡± I confessed, wiping a bead of sweat from my brow as I gathered the remaining items and returned them to the sack. It had taken me nearly an hour to arrange everything in Luna¡¯s room to my satisfaction. Initially, I had set up the items on the altar, but it didn''t feel quite right, so I removed them and sought Luna''s permission to return. She agreed, and I hurriedly retrieved the additional items from another secret stash.


    After persuading another resident to grant me access for a moment, I retrieved the items and gifted the ornate blade to them in gratitude. On my way back, I encountered the deer-lady once more, who seemed curious about my presence. I paused to respond to her inquiry, despite our language differences and reluctance to use my new eye-ability so freely. Deducing it to be about my purpose here. I explained my intentions and asked if my interpretation was accurate, to which she nodded, albeit somewhat sheepishly.


    Sensing her approachability, I then invited her to assist me with the project. After a brief moment of contemplation, she bashfully agreed. Together, we returned to Luna¡¯s room, where Luna was still engaged in silent prayer before the now tidied shrine. The deer-lady appeared slightly nervous, but relaxed upon hearing Luna confirm her permission to be present. She even brought along a few talismans she had crafted herself to adorn the altar.


    With the addition of her contributions, the room seemed brighter, and the once humble shrine now exuded a sense of dignity. As my vision -refocused- afterward, I noticed a subtle change in the aura surrounding Luna; it seemed to emanate a more tranquil vibe. Luna didn¡¯t offer any verbal thanks for our efforts, but her demeanor hinted at a sense of gratitude. It struck me as peculiar, but both Luna¡¯s and the deer-lady¡¯s colorations were remarkably similar.


    ¡°The Gift of Sight seems to be treating you rather well, Daegon.¡± Luna remarked, casting a cautious glance toward me and the deer-lady. The deer-lady appeared slightly puzzled as she looked at me.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s a lot to get used to. Plus I can feel the strain it puts on me.¡± I replied, leaning back and surveying our work. ¡°Hey, uhm¡­ Miss¡­ Luna will never ask for help, could you maybe stop by here every now and then? I don¡¯t have anything to offer y¡ª¡±


    ¡°O-oh, n-no that¡¯s fine. I would love to help you, uh, I mean Luna out¡­ You don¡¯t need to give me anything¡­ I-I, well, you¡­ Oh, you can¡¯t understand me I¡¯m so sorry I¡¯m just rambling¡­¡± The deer-lady stammered in a flustered state, then turned to Luna. Sitting up to get a view of her mouth, I could still follow the conversation. ¡°I-I always wanted t-to be around you b-but I thought I would impose. A-am I? I¡¯m sorry, also¡­ C-can you thank this human for me please?¡±


    Luna gave a meaningful look towards me before a small smile, and she nodded to the deer-lady. ¡°You¡¯re welcome anytime.¡±


    ¡°T-thank you. I-I¡¯ll visit again tomorrow.¡± the deer-lady said, standing up and giving me a small bow before hastily exiting the room and closing the door behind her.


    ¡°So, your new eyes let you understand others despite the language barrier, even though both I and our gracious guest spoke completely differently.¡± Luna observed, slowly rising from her kneeling position. It dawned on me that Luna¡¯s original speech wasn¡¯t ordinary. My heart rate increased as she scrutinized me over her shrine. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, neither I nor her will reveal that to anyone. Not that Bwe fully recognized what was happening. Be more careful.¡±


    I lightly scratched at my neck, unsure how to move forward from that comment. Sensing my hesitation, Luna approached and extended her hand to help me stand. Gratefully, I accepted her offer and rose to my feet with ease. It was a humbling reminder that despite their appearances, many beings possessed strengths far beyond my own. As I looked into Luna''s eyes once more, I couldn''t help but be struck by her beauty. There was a momentary pause, during which it seemed she was waiting for me to respond or perhaps to do something. Before I could gather my thoughts, a warm sensation emanated from my forearm.


    ¡°Daegon, before you go¡­ I want to deeply apologize.¡± Luna began, acknowledging the subtle signal from the contract on my arm. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for Zylas or Carna to come that night, and I didn¡¯t know about your previous run-in with her either. Once I truly looked into your eyes, I knew I was wrong to assume the worst about you. But, I couldn¡¯t prevent what happened. You¡¯re a remarkably intelligent and compassionate human, and I feel that I owe you more than just these words¡­¡±


    She removed a reforming obsidian bracelet and extended it toward me, the faint golden lines on its surface catching my eye. It was truly a beautiful piece, reminiscent of the color of her fur.


    ¡°I-I know you¡¯re trying to ask for forgiveness, but I already told you... I don¡¯t blame you¡­ Plus, I was holding off on a gift of my own.¡± I responded, retrieving a small tarnished trinket from my pocket. It was an average-sized pendant with a brilliant blue gem at its center. Luna''s genuine smile and chuckle eased the tension that had lingered between us.


    ¡°You really are weird. Okay then, how about we trade? We hold onto these for each other. Plus, I¡¯ll tell you my real name.¡± Luna proposed, her tone much lighter now. There was no reason for me to decline.


    ¡°Your¡­ Real name?¡± I asked, pondering what she meant.


    ¡°Luna is just the human name I used when I arrived here. My true name, and what the others call me, is Ainai Miya.¡± She said as if lifting a weight from her shoulders. I smiled; I was unsure why but the name felt to truly suit her well. Before I could respond, another warm glow sprung forth from my arm. She gave light laugh and waved me off, ushering me towards a new endeavor.


    <hr>


    ¡°YOU WHAT!?¡± Zylas roared in the distance, followed by the unmistakable sound of something breaking. My eyes widened as I stopped mid-bite of a rather well-made burger. Carna, in the midst of a similar action, mirrored my shocked expression. We were engaged in small talk, as she was explaining the peculiarities of one being at The Den and their fascination with cooking human foods. Prior to this interruption, I had met up with Carna for a brief chat that concluded with a rather minor agreement and me agreeing to ¡®get used to¡¯ her ¡®normal¡¯ form. Valia even stopped by to inform me she would be meeting Zylas and informing her of the new arrangement. Now, the sound of heavy footsteps drew closer. I finished my bite, as a half-transformed Zylas turned the corner. The glare she shot over as she paused behind Carna was a jumbled bag of emotions.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°Daegon, we need to talk. Now.¡± Zylas held back her anger as she took another step forward and quickly reached her hand out. She reflexively pulled back slightly after reaching full extension, making a slight fist and waving her own hand off. ¡°Just, come to my room.¡±


    Zylas angrily walked away as Carna had varying degrees of concern washing over her from that interaction. She whispered, ¡°What in the world was that?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ Should probably go¡­¡± I spoke setting the burger down and standing up. I paused, and decided to pick up and hastily finish my burger. Despite a rather nice breakfast, the burger seemed to really hit the spot. Carna elected to finish the rest of hers in one bite in response to my hastily eaten one, and tugged on my arm before I could make my way past her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t uh¡­ Don¡¯t die.¡± She spoke, as if trying to give words of encouragement.


    I made my way to Zylas¡¯ room where a memorable hole in the door still lingered. It was ajar, and I opted to do a few light knocks before entering. Valia sat in a very familiar chair, in a bit of a tizzy. Zylas was standing next to her, still in her half-transformation form rolling her fingers on the top of the chair.


    ¡°Alright chucklefuck, explain this to me.¡± Zylas spoke irately as I closed the door behind me. She held out a black envelope that was opened, with her eyes peering down on me. I opened it, and immediately knew what it was about despite being unable to read it. ¡°I know you can¡¯t read that, but I¡¯m willing to bet you know exactly what it says.¡±


    ¡°I can take a rather good guess.¡± I said closing it and handing it back and looking at Valia. She seemed a bit confused, as Zylas chucked it at her bed. ¡°But that¡¯s not why she¡¯s here, right?¡±


    ¡°I know why you made a deal with Lord. But what the hell are you thinking of this contract with Valia?¡± Zylas points to Valia¡¯s arm. I was a bit unsure how to respond, and revealed my end of the contract. She glared at me before walking over and grabbing my arm. She carefully ran a claw over the tree as if examining the details. Her rage seemed to slowly subside, as some of her tension was melting away.


    ¡°Can you¡­ Can a lot of beings actually read it as such?¡± I asked, unsure of what answer Zylas would give me.


    ¡°You can¡¯t?¡± Valia asked honestly.


    ¡°Humans can¡¯t feel the contract as most others can, unless they¡¯re trained to do so. Think of viewing most Contracts similar to an Infernal, you and I have to agree to share it. It takes an absurd being to force-read one.¡± Zylas said, continuing to look over the contract.


    ¡°L force-read the Infernal then¡­ I definitely didn¡¯t know or want him to know exactly what happened.¡± I said quietly looking at Zylas. I felt her squeeze my wrist slightly before letting go of my arm. She let out a low rumble, and walked over to sit on her bed.


    ¡°Sooo, am I free to¡­¡± Valia started to ask before getting glared at by Zylas.


    ¡°Daegon, tell me what Lord decided to offer you.¡± Zylas spoke, with surprisingly little hostility. She seemed to have mostly given up in that regard.


    ¡°Well¡­ L said he¡¯d change your contracts conditions if we made a deal¡­¡± I spoke, getting a bit nervous to the proposal to make.


    ¡°Wait, Zylas you¡¯re Restri¡ª¡± Valia began to ask before being cut off.


    ¡°And you want to offer your blood in return for¡­ What, a bodyguard?¡± Zylas spoke ignoring Valia. Valia desperately looked between the two of us trying to understand the situation. ¡°¡­ No. You¡¯re smart but also a colossal fucking idiot. You want to reinstate my contract in hopes of minor favors here and there, all while keeping me satiated off yourself so I don¡¯t go off the rails again. But, you don¡¯t know how much I require, and despite recent events you¡¯re still fucking terrified.¡±


    ¡°Well, glad to know we¡¯re basically on the same page.¡± I spoke with a bit of a nervous shake in my leg.


    ¡°Hold the fuck up. You¡¯re telling me Zylas could be just snapped out of existence whenever by THE Lord, but Daegon somehow is giving you a second chance at life with a friendly bullshit offer?¡± Valia practically belted out.


    ¡°Oh that¡¯s not the best part. Lord gives my Contract to Daegon. If Daegon ever dies I get my World Contract back, but I¡¯m bound by whatever Restrictive one he gives me until then. Plus, he can change it whenever he pleases.¡± Zylas began, crossing her arms before looking back over to Valia. ¡°So cub, what would you do? Think your first plaything would screw me over before you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡ª¡± I began to word my defense before Valia erupted.


    ¡°X hjkrt lxb sjkl vkgexmc dwljzd out if Daegon wasn¡¯t trying to do a good thing for you.¡± Valia snarled at Zylas as she stood up taking a step towards her, with a side I¡¯ve never seen from her before. She was seriously ready to assault Zylas, despite it being a rather obvious one-sided fight.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t serious, and your answer speaks volumes for how you really feel Valia. More importantly, that¡¯s new.¡± Zylas growled, pointing at me. Thankfully, I didn¡¯t have to fake concern to the unraveling situation.


    ¡°I don¡¯t give a FUCK about his eyes, you might be the most badass bitch here but I¡¯ll still carv¡ª¡± Valia violently roared before being dwarfed by a rather quickly transforming Zylas. I fell backwards, as a deep and pure red aura spilled out of Zylas flooding the room. She was not playing around in this very moment as I watched Valia barely able to stand her ground to an enormous Zylas, nearly tearing her current clothes to shreds. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to stand, but I was able to place my hand on the Contract. It glowed on her fur, catching Zylas¡¯ attention. It was an intense minute-long staring contest between the two, before Zylas broke her gaze and looked back at me. Her rage almost immediately turned to¡­ Worry? She immediately began to shrink as she rushed over to me.


    ¡°Daegon, you¡¯re bleeding. Close your eyes.¡± Zylas spoke seriously as she wiped the blood from below my eye, showing it to me. Valia rushed over as well, I could see she hadn¡¯t fully recovered from Zylas as she had a minor tremor over her entire body. But, that much didn¡¯t matter as the world all of a sudden felt very heavy. I complied, closing my eyes finally¡­.


    <hr>


    I awoke, heavy migraine and bandages wrapped around my eyes laying on my stomach. I was pretty sure with the level of comfort I was laying on; this was Zylas¡¯ bed.


    ¡°Daegon, you alright?¡± Valia¡¯s voice sprang forth as I heard her walk closer. I slowly sat up, found the edge of the bed, and slid my feet to touch the bottom of the floor. I felt Valia¡¯s hands coddle my head as she slowly inspected me over. I reached my hand up and found where the bandages were tied, slowly beginning to remove it. Getting to the final layer, I opened my eyes slightly as the light pierced through.


    ¡°Can you see alright?¡± Valia asked stepping away. As the final bandages fell, the world sprung back to life. Zylas was now sitting in the chair back in her half-transformation form, as Valia knelt in front of me looking me over carefully.


    ¡°Y-yeah¡­ How long was I out?¡± I asked, squinting a bit. It felt almost as bad as my first possession, as if the overflow of information and power had nowhere else to go. Thankfully I was at least used to handling this type of feedback at this point. Glancing down, I noticed the bandages were mostly dyed with my blood.


    ¡°Only ten minutes, want to explain what just happened?¡± Zylas spoke, in a scarily calm tone. I wanted to explain, but Ainai¡¯s words of advice sprang into my head about my current situation.


    ¡°You want to accept my offer, Zylas?¡± I asked in return. She glared at me, and mumbled something. Standing up, albeit shakily, I walked over. Valia reached out slightly before retracting, and took up a spot on the bed watching over. Zylas revealed the letter again, opened it, and re-read the details over it.


    ¡°How about you find out how much blood I actually need first?¡± She asked, looking at me.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s fair¡­. Uh, will this do?¡± I asked, pulling out a knife I kept in my back pocket. Zylas almost chuckled as she stood up. I didn¡¯t notice immediately, but her clothes were basically shreds and scraps of cloth hanging off her. She grabbed my arm and pulled me in slightly, raising it up and holding a finger to my wrist. I slightly squeezed the closed knife in my hand, making sure not to drop it.


    ¡°One, or two?¡± She asked, without giving reason.


    ¡°T-two?¡±


    Without hesitation, Zylas sank her teeth into my wrist. A surge of adrenaline coursed through me, but to my surprise, there was no pain. It was an unsettling sensation, and barely lasted a minute. As she released my arm, I withdrew it, examining it closely. There were unmistakable bite marks near my wrist, yet they had already begun to heal. While there was some discomfort, it was far less intense than I had anticipated. Pocketing the knife, I looked back up to Zylas to see her giving me a rather gratified look.


    ¡°You¡­ You good?¡± I asked, rubbing my wrists a bit.


    ¡°Up to a month, if I do nothing. Probably closer to a week if I stay as active as I am now.¡± Zylas said as she stretched her arm out, opening and closing her hand. If I didn¡¯t know better, it almost felt like Zylas was fully reinvigorated. ¡°I could stretch it to a month if I mix in human food as well, but I¡¯ll absolutely need more at that point.¡±


    ¡°Well, that beats my assumption of it being daily.¡± I thought out loud. Zylas paused and looked me over, there were many things she had on her mind.


    ¡°Willingly giving up something is much more beneficial than ripping it out of someone. Just like that slut of yours and her deal.¡± Zylas spoke returning her gaze back over to her arm, flexing slightly. Valia began to growl again before being cut off. ¡°Oh not you, Daegon has his own personal Demon.¡±


    ¡°He has a what?¡± Valia spoke, standing up. I turned and looked at her. She was both irate, and slightly concerned.


    ¡°His eyes are a gift from her¡­ Mmm, he¡¯s strong enough to use them now it seems, so she¡¯s been recovering quietly in the background watching everything unravel. Seems he can see the value of beings with it¡­ That explains the backlash he received when I raged out¡­ This is the second gift he¡¯s been given¡­ Your regenerative ability is hers as well?¡± Zylas spoke, as she crossed her arms and closed her eyes. As if, recalling all of this from memory.


    ¡°How do you know any of that?¡± I asked, turning back to her. I haven¡¯t spoken to anyone about such things; those were all rather well-guarded thoughts or memories¡­


    ¡°A little ability that ties me to my existence is how¡­ Blood, is your answer. It¡¯s also how I found out about this place, and why it¡¯s in my best interest to accept whatever deal you give me¡­ So long as I have access to your blood.¡± Zylas said opening her eyes, glaring back down at me.


    ¡°So you¡¯re not like me?¡± Valia asked a bit harshly, but understandably so.


    ¡°Nobody is like you, Cub. I am a werewolf though, just a bit different than others. You don¡¯t have to believe me; My ability can go both ways.¡± Zylas said walking past me over to Valia. She made an action I couldn¡¯t see and I saw Valia recoil slightly. A moment past and Zylas turned around showing her finger with a cut on it.


    ¡°Valia isn¡¯t a moron, I know she understands what¡¯s going on here. You¡¯re a clever idiot that attempted to plan all of this, and I¡¯m a raging beast wanting free of her current cage. If you really agree to this, you¡¯ll be stuck with me until you die. And, there¡¯s a chance I plan your death if I really want out. Plus, you¡¯ll have the weight of another contract to deal with.¡± Zylas spoke calmly, intently watching over me. ¡°It¡¯s the best deal I¡¯ll ever get. Are you willing to take those risks?¡±


    Zylas¡¯ words seemed to try and drive home a rather dark outcome to the deal I was offering. Maybe it was the being with me influencing my thoughts, or L¡¯s enigmatic presence¡­ But I stand firm that this was almost wholly my own idea. There wasn¡¯t an immediate gain, but there was a lot to learn from this. I cannot deny the obvious pitfalls, but it¡¯s¡­


    ¡°Wait, I would bear the Contract? Can a human do that?¡± I blurted out, contemplating that existence.


    ¡°You think Lord would burden himself with someone else out of choice? That¡¯d be the fuckin¡¯ day.¡± Zylas retorted sharply. ¡°I¡¯m sure it wouldn¡¯t weigh on you anywhere near as much as that whore.¡±


    ¡°You have a fucked-up way of caring.¡± Valia spoke standing next to Zylas. It really put into perspective the size difference between them. She began walking towards the door.


    ¡°So Sparkle-Eyes, are we doin¡¯ this?¡± Zylas asked, holding up the paper from the envelope. It might be a bit early to call, but I think Zylas ran out of insults. The words on the note began to glow, anticipating the outcome of our conversation.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± I spoke, as Valia opened the door behind me.


    ¡°FUCKING HELL!¡± Valia screamed as she jumped back from the door. I turned about to see what the commotion was about.


    ¡°Oh good, I don¡¯t have to wait around. You should repair that door; I really don¡¯t like having to walk this much.¡± Lord spoke indifferently, walking into the room past the flabbergasted Valia, who took up residence with her back to the wall. He paused for a moment, looked at her and shrugged. ¡°Why are you afraid? You¡¯re a Non-Contractor.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a WHAT?¡± Zylas yelled in astonishment.


    ¡°That¡¯s not even the most impressive thing in the room.¡± Lord spoke casually, glancing over to me. He walked up to Zylas and was promptly handed the note. ¡°So Daegon, ready to be the first Human I¡¯ve known to hold a Contract?¡±


    I paused, unsure how to answer. All I could really do was nod in agreement, mentally preparing for whatever endeavor this process entailed.

 8-A matter of Perspective

    8-A matter of Perspective


    -Chapter Start: Backtracking, July 12<sup>th</sup>, 7PM


    ¡°Oh Dream-Eater¡­ What treasures would you adorn me with?¡±


    ¡°None fit for such a being as yourself, I¡¯m afraid. Perhaps, if more time is permitted, I may have lone spoils squandered.¡± Dream-Eater¡¯s voice cooed throughout the shop¡­ Or, more accurately, the mind in which they shaped into such a shop. Little Daegon, trading his trinkets and travesties away for worldly sums never to be remembered¡­


    ¡°Very well, I will await the trivialities of time. Until then.¡± Our vision glanced around the shop once more, as it always did after such a transaction. The Dream-Eater slowly making their way back to their den, mingling over their newly acquired demises.


    ¡°We should move on¡­¡± I quipped. Managing my powers in a Mortals vessel always led to fatigue, especially when one grows often, such as Daegon. Expanding thresholds were a boon for both of us, sure. Alas, boundless power was burdensome when the objective was not calamity, but discretion¡­


    ¡­It was wise to never be out so late.


    ¡°Those who walk in the light, should fear those in the dark.¡± But, more importantly, should fear those that also walk in the light.


    O-hooh. Little Daegon continues to grow. Always after such hardships does that boundless wisdom come forth. What a delectable little thing he is¡­ An urge to slowly devour such a tender morsel sprung forth once more. Maybe, in a few centuries that carnal desire will blossom. But, not today. ¡°Lest one¡¯s cost be snatched by another.¡±


    A human, maybe a hundred or so meters out, shrieks out in their death-wail. As the carnage of a successful hunt ends, the intoxication of a major player oozes down the roadways. Lights flicker back on, and Daegon decides to move on under the lights once more.


    How boorish. In the past, he¡¯d chase after such horrific sounds, ignorantly rushing to free a husk from a climax already reached. In the end, I would save his foolishness and get a well-deserved meal. But, alas, that spectacular meal will get away from my clutches¡­ Or¡­ Will it?


    ¡­The ability to learn was abundant, the streets were clean, buildings upkept, families blossomed¡­ Sweet Daegon and their philosophical clasps, how ignorant¡­ But, despite their lacking, it was nice to have such a young mind to push against. To learn from how they learn, and guide them to better suit... To better¡­ Guide themselves. ¡°For all the wrong reasons.¡±


    Ah, the drunken wolf stumbles upon another foolish lamb. Will its wiles get the best of the Lamb, leading to a shocking demise? Or, will it sober up and limp away in defeat?


    ¡­ This wolf¡­ It¡¯s different than others. What a peculiar use of its abilities. Pheromones, causing just slight nudges in the behavior of Daegon¡­ She just might be able to force him into her little trap. Now this is entertainment¡­


    She was too close, uncomfortably close. What a dastardly use, it¡¯s invigorating to see there¡¯s life left in this world outside of wholesale slaughter, and mindless carnage. Her ripped clothes, physical attractiveness¡­ Her allure might even drag me out for an unsanctioned stroll¡­.


    ¡°Hhhmmm¡­.¡±


    Innocence led him to take the bait, but will only lead her to an unpassionate night of love bites on my Little Daegon, and her skulking away in the morning light. Too bad, she would have been a nice toy too.


    ¡­reached back in my pocket to grab my phone, desperate to make a call. Oh poor Daegon, your Spirit Walker friend won¡¯t be reached with her presence in overdrive. ¡°No Signal.¡± You should know this by now¡­ ¡°No Signal, something¡¯s close.¡±


    What¡¯s this though¡­ The hunter¡­ Is hunted? Oh, that¡¯s a rather large ship hunting our hunter. Daegon is but a mere stepping stone to either of them. Unbeknownst to them, that at the end of this chain Is the largest hunter out of them all¡­ Me.


    ¡°Bloodlust is in the air.¡± As a scratch from our side slowly bleeds. Daegon, filled with adrenaline and feeling the presence of the hunters¡¯ hunter, doesn¡¯t feel the cut, or movement as the were-beasts¡¯ senses are shot alive by his blood. Her body trembles, not out of fear, but lust and desire¡­ Does she intend to break her contract? No, even an alluring treat as Daegon wouldn¡¯t drive such a desirable meal to the edge¡­ Would he...?


    ¡­not remembering the last time I had to expend so much energy. ¡°Three days ago, little one. You had to admire my beautiful form again, remember?¡±


    Oh poor Little Daegon, always caught in the moment of such mockeries.


    Her hands were adorned with long nails, dripping with blood. Blood? Despite the torn fabric of her clothes, there were no scratches, no bruises. ¡°No bruises, no blood.¡±


    He¡¯s fighting her allure off, without a single ounce of help from me. It¡¯s been a while since Daegon, or anyone, made me feel Pride in them¡­


    ¡°But she wasn¡¯t unconscious.¡± Little Daegon, you acknowledged the situation, but still dare play ignorant? I guess, it¡¯s time for you to play, ¡°Fight or flight.¡±


    A miraculous, awe-inspiring form explodes from the once elegant amazon before us. Daegon, collapsing under her magnificence, watches as her refined wickedness adorn its true shape. Consequences be damned, she wanted Daegon in all her unbridled lust. Truly, an Apex Predator, worthy of toying with.


    That is a being I yearn to conquer...


    A surge of raw desire beckoned my intimate thoughts from the treat before us. It posed no threat, thus took me a moment to regain composure on the scene unfolding.


    ¡°I guess I¡¯ll take your destiny for myself!¡± The marvelous specimen cooed, eyes a frenzy. Every fiber in me longed to possess Daegon¡¯s body and claim her myself. But, it¡¯s too close to the climax, and this treat will be ours. ¡°Were the rules broken?¡±


    In one marvelous, astonishing flash, the final drop happened. Daegon flying across the room, caused a rupture of near ecstasy within. ¡°Broken nose, ribs, cracked pelvis, and your ear drums are ruptured.¡± ¡­ But none of those mattered, she was my prey now.


    But, moments before transforming, there was an intruder, the big boat hunting our hunter. It had been here for a while, but it planned to intervene now. In fact, if memory serves, Daegon actually knew this intruder. Enough of my senses returned to hear her exclaim the falsities of the night¡¯s events.


    <u>¡°Liar.¡±</u> I said, borrowing precious Daegon¡¯s lips. My soon to be captive froze, perhaps my desire was too intense. Even more interestingly, the intruder froze as well, masking its presence once more. Too late for that.


    Despite that shock, it seemed to wear from her mind and refocused on the barely moving Daegon. Bringing him up against the wall, she slowly, intently, closed in. Contemplating if this was the best action. Perhaps, she would pull away, and enjoy the boy slowly as she once said¡­ Alas, her mind was made up. Moments before Daegon¡¯s eminent demise, I would strike. Preserving both mind and body, cascading her ultimate meal into the most delicious of defeats. ¡°Death.¡±


    My hand flickered to life, a rupture of spirit and voracity swept over Daegon¡¯s body, ready to pounce¡­


    ¡°Zylas, is that you?¡± The intruder finally made himself known. He looked over, clearly noticing my intent. Is he so confident that I could be stopped by the likes of him?


    Daegon¡¯s once fading consciousness bubbled back forth. Quickly, I retracted my takeover, and redirected that power into his own objectives. A very clean left hook knocked the beast back, causing her to stumble, even bleed. Though, it seemed he did not recognize his success. His fading consciousness beckoned, even pleaded with me to save the kid¡­ How delectably arrogant of him.


    <u>¡°Liar.¡±</u> I spoke, one final time. Evident for both of them to see, to hear.


    ¡°Zylas, I think we need to have a talk.¡±


    Finally, Daegon¡¯s reign was given to me.


    <hr>


    Both Intruder and Beast alike raised their arms as power ruptured forth from Daegon¡¯s limp body, as if the winds of a hurricane threatened to exhaust their very life. Daegon¡¯s body, beginning to gradually float to a standing position, deliberately changed to a much more elaborate form. It was a slow transformation due to injuries, but enough for the being within to still take full control.


    ¡°Kneel before your rightful Queen, and I might spare you, Pup.¡± I spoke towards the clearly shaken beast. Zylas fell to their knees, unsure of which presence to fear more: Mine, or the Intruder.


    ¡°That simply won¡¯t do. You fear that over me?¡± I said sinisterly, looking over to the Intruder. ¡°Oh yes, you¡¯re the quiet kid L, no? Apologies for this, as Daegon¡¯s fading wish was for me to save you from her¡­. Be transported away from my senses, o¡¯ being who dares stand in my way.¡±


    A dazzling gleam of colors ruptured from my palms, covering the boy entirely. Zylas¡¯ existence and expression could only best be described as the fathomless depths of despondency now, as she glanced at where L once stood.


    ¡°There. Now, Pup. What will I do with a soul of your caliber?¡± I spoke, walking slowly up to the now half-human formed Zylas and placing my hands on her head, forcing her to look into my eyes. The extasy of her desires turned into one of the darkest spoils upon recognizing the frivolousness they cast it on, nearly rivaling my joining of Daegon¡­ Perhaps¡­ Not that dark.


    ¡°Sorry, while Zylas deserves what you are going to do, I would still like to defer judgement beforehand.¡± The boy spoke, now walking through the door on the other side of the room. I glanced over at him, then back to the doorway I excused him from before. Zylas had some small flicker of hope return to her eyes. As if he might do something. Without a second thought, I ruptured forth the same power as before and cast a hand at him, but this time¡­.


    ¡°I¡¯m not here to start a fight.¡± L spoke, conjuring a massive barrier, which surprisingly withstood my leisurely attempts. I stood up, and focused. This boy will not make a mockery of me.


    ¡°In the presence of Royalty, all those in attendance should know their place.¡± Doubled¡­ Tripled¡­ Quadrupled the power, and L in response erected a stronger and stronger barrier. ¡°Do you know who you dare stand in the presence of, Mortal?¡±


    ¡°I care not who the Snake gives the Apple to, nor does my authority allow me sovereignty over such divinity. But regardless of my ending, I am compelled to uphold my deal with the World, by any and all means.¡± L spoke, clearly struggling. I glanced back over, Zylas had evidently passed out moments after I took my attention off her.


    ¡°You¡¯ve spoiled my mood, and my meal. I hope you understand the depths of these transgressions. If I had it, this entire Bastion would be mine.¡± I spat, ending the farce between us and crossing my arms. L stood there, sweating as his barriers slowly dissolved around him. A small smile did cross my face at the sight. Perhaps there¡¯s more life left in the world after all¡­


    ¡°That¡¯s not my problem what you decide to do. Zylas, is though.¡± L said finally catching his breath and looking me over. Perhaps his Contract, or just his keen senses, told him to keep his guard up around me from now on.


    ¡°Before you deal with my spoils, tell me what you plan to do. Or, I¡¯ll have you endlessly hunt a defect you¡¯ll never reach.¡± I spoke once more, stopping him in his tracks.


    ¡°Under normal circumstances, I would push their existence back through our cycle of life. But something tells me that will be much more work than it¡¯s worth.¡± L spoke carefully, it seemed as if a small tremble had taken ahold of his hand. That very itch compelling him to deal with this Rule-Breaker so close, yet so far away.


    ¡°How about this, little one. Let¡¯s make a wager. Make her your Restriction. If in the coming months, Little precious Daegons¡¯ heart hasn¡¯t changed on your dearest Zylas, you¡¯re free to do with her as you please. Even more so, I could grant you freedom of that Contract if you so desire.¡± I toyed with L, slowly drawing out the words and dancing the thoughts around to catch any potential shift in his emotion. Alas, he seemed wholly indifferent to all except concluding this transaction¡­ Interesting¡­.


    ¡°And, if he decides to spare her?¡± L spoke, the trembling in his hand increasing.


    ¡°Well, you can be free of her Contract by reinstating it. Or should I say, burdening it with me if you¡¯d be so indulgent.¡± I spoke, with a bit more desire than intended. Despite Zylas passing out and losing my gusto, to say she was a rare catch was an understatement.


    ¡°I hate to ask, but what- ¡°L started, but not before I hastily erected a seal around Zylas. Unholy chains of eons bygone wrapped around her still kneeling unconscious body. Lord looked over and let out a short, defeated sigh. L snaped his fingers, and blackened sigils began to form around his hand.


    ¡°Restriction instated, Zylas is hereby indentured to find, house, and reform, or execute, wayward beings who can endanger themselves, or humans, whom don¡¯t qualify for their contracts. The effective range is throughout Eerie¡¯s Respite, as well as externally if those that threaten its operations are found by her. She is given the privilege to house both those willing and unwilling. She is given the power to edit the positioning of others contract to the designated area in which she rehabilitates, but never away from it unless approved through me. Her previous contract is also included, and all is bound to the letter as originally bestowed, and understood by me alone.¡± L spoke, as I withdrew the conjured chains. He looked at me once more before walking up to her. Placing a hand on her head, black flames erupted from her eyes, before she fell forward onto the ground.


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    ¡°Will that be all?¡± L asked, obviously exhausted, and seemingly wanting to leave.


    ¡°Now that you mention it¡­¡± I spoke, a dastardly plot forming. I expended far more energy than I should have today, and Daegon¡¯s form would take a long time to heal by my means alone. With L being such an authority¡­ ¡°You are to oversee Daegon¡¯s wellbeing while I rest. It was by your own hesitation that caused such calamitous damage, and the survival of him as well. Surely, you can do such a small task.¡±


    ¡°Human means will not be enough; he¡¯d have to be tossed into the world it seems you¡¯ve kept him out of.¡± L spoke in a rather cold, uncaring tone again. Now that his objective was successful, it truly did seem his worldly cares were gone. Yet, for some reason he stood here still playing along. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll need him to make a deal as well.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s for him to decide. But I do believe he¡¯s ready to mingle with your kind. Please do treat him with the utmost care, you would hate me recovering his vitality my way.¡±


    ¡°This is a lot more work than I need you know.¡± L spoke, eyes closed and head tilted to look at the ceiling.


    ¡°Good, I believe that can conclude our dealings then. I do believe he¡¯s under your protection henceforth.¡± At this point, I felt my presence within his body beginning to deteriorate more than necessary. Relinquishing the reigns, his body began to flush the excess heat off as it reverted to his form and fell limp on the ground. ¡­ Maybe, I was bit too harsh on the kid, and Daegon¡­ I should leave a lingering thought for him when he wakes up, to stir things up.


    ¡°Rest now, little Daegon. A deal is to be made when you awaken. Take nothing less than everything if you¡­ If we, are to survive. That kid is not what you think.¡±


    <hr>


    The world had a haze covering it, as if every sense was muffled with a fluffy blanket,. My arms were numb, as if I was relearning how to use them. Slowly, I got a hand to my face, where I felt bandages wrapped around my head. There wasn¡¯t much blocking my view, but I still fumbled to find where it started.


    ¡°Le- t- -r -ou.¡± A muffled voice nearby seemed to respond to my actions, scaring me a bit. ¡°Whoa th-, t- - easy. I- he- - help -ou.¡±


    Slowly, I felt their hands touch my head as if making sure I knew what they were doing. After a moment, the bandages started loosening, and I squinted through the final ones falling off. My vision was blurry, and it seemed my hearing wasn¡¯t in the best of states either.


    ¡°Wh- ¡°I began to say, before nearly gagging on my own parchedness. The fuzzy figure handed me a small lukewarm bag, that had a straw in it.


    ¡°Can yo- un-stand m- ¡°the blurred figure asked, my vision refusing to focus.


    ¡°Barely. Sa-same with seeing.¡± I croaked out between my sips of water. The figured made a gesture of sorts before walking off and leaving through a door. The room was rather dark, as compared to the door they just opened. I sat there, slowly sipping the water sack, attempting to refocus on anything in the room. Was this a hospital? Where was I exactly? More importantly, what ha-


    A red hot, jarring pain shot through my head at the thought. Glimpses and flashes of a horrendous scene flashed before me, before snapping back to reality. There were multiple blurred things in the room with me now, and I seemed to have death-gripped the water sack causing it to spill on myself.


    ¡°Grqzmrxmqyy, Gjmydlzxm, Gjkldqys jv Gwzbdqly Bzyd.¡± One of the blurred individuals sung, as I felt the spilled water vanish. Slowly, I was sat up into a comfortable position, and¡­ My arms were loosely bound to the sides of the bed I was in?


    ¡°Wh-where am I? What¡¯s going on?¡± I asked hoarsely, my voice slightly better than before.


    ¡°Safe. Rest? Recover. Calm.¡± A melodic voice similar to the previous spoke. Before I could respond I felt gravely tired, and quickly faded back to sleep.


    -


    ¡°-ess, with a full recovery. Mentally though, the patient will have to deal with it themselves. Unless, you plan to involve someone of considerable power.¡± A serious voice was speaking somewhere just as I was coming to. An array of beeps came from a machine nearby, as the door from before quickly opened. My vision had mostly returned, as I saw a stocky male enter in odd clothing. Something about him felt terribly off. For one, he had coverings over his eyes. Secondly, his hair seemed to be alive?


    ¡°Daegon? Can you hear me? You¡¯re in a safe place.¡± The man spoke in a low tone, his hands up where I could see them.


    ¡°Y-yeah, I can hear.¡± My voice cracking from dryness. I looked around to see if there might have been another sack of water nearby.


    ¡°I want to make it clear, you¡¯re in a safe place here. You were brought by Lord to be treated for your injuries. Nobody who enters this room is here to hurt you.¡± He spoke again, slowly and methodically. Who was Lord? What did he mean nobody was here to hurt me?


    I finally realized what was wrong with the man, looking lower I noticed his body went into a snake¡¯s body. ¡°Wha-!¡±


    ¡°Woah woah, calm down. We treated your wounds and have been taken care of you for three days now. Call me Sthlades.¡± The snake-man spoke slowly, keeping his hands up.


    ¡°Th-three days? What happened? Where exactly am I?¡± I began looking down at myself, starting to panic. My memories were coming in abrupt, painful flashes.


    ¡°A hospital, you took a nasty fall.¡± A very familiar, cold voice rang out from the other side of me.


    ¡°Is, that you, L?¡± I asked, looking at the white-haired kid lounging across two chairs. He had a file in his hands reading it over. ¡°What¡¯s going on.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the Lo- ¡°Sthlades was cut off as L looked over his direction, then back to me.


    ¡°Remember all those times you helped me out?¡± L asked, ever so apathetically. ¡°I¡¯m repaying the favor. You¡¯re going to have to trust a lot of what I¡¯m about to say, so I don¡¯t have to repeat myself.¡±


    Honestly, that was probably the most I¡¯ve ever heard him talk at once, maybe even in an entire day.


    ¡°Starting easy, thank the Gorgon for saving your life and let them do their job. After that, I¡¯ll explain what¡¯s going to happen.¡± L said as he stood up and walked over to Sthlades, handing him the file.


    ¡°A-alright¡­¡± I said a bit confused. L¡¯s presence had always made things feel carefree, but to feel it in this situation almost felt wrong.


    ¡°Alright Daegon, can I begin some tests?¡± Sthlades asked, getting closer as L seemed to vanish from existence.


    ¡°Sure¡­ Uhm, thanks by the way.¡± I said quietly, as the air began to return to normal.


    ¡°You were quite the mess. Your skin was damaged, eyes had ruptures, various cuts and bruises, not to mention the broken rips, hand, and pelvis. Under normal treatments, they would have pronounced you dead on arrival.¡± Sthlades started as he held his rough hand over my wrists. He slowly pulled my arm, raised it, lowered it, then allowed me to place it back at my side. He ran through similar tests for both my legs and other arm. After, I allowed him to raise my shirt and examine the wide-spanning colorful bruises on my front and back.


    ¡°It¡¯s honestly a miracle you¡¯re so well put back together. If you didn¡¯t have that aggressive regeneration, I don¡¯t think you¡¯d be able to see or walk correctly again.¡± Sthlades spoke finishing up.


    ¡°Regeneration? I-I¡¯m human, I don¡¯t have anything like that.¡± I spoke puzzled.


    ¡°Right, right. I¡¯m sure Lord will explain things to you better then. I¡¯m going to have Sybil drop off some food and check your other vitals.¡± Sthlades said picking up the file again and writing a few things down. It caught me off guard when I noticed a snake on his head looking over to me. They seemed to remain still, or resting, for the most part. My heartrate jumped at bit, causing him to look back over.


    ¡°Sybil doesn¡¯t speak your language well, but you have nothing to worry. I¡¯m sure your favored guest will be back before they arrive as it is. Enjoy your stay.¡± Sthlades said calmly as they turned to leave.


    My mind was a mess, attempting to parse together all the information. I was in¡­ A supernatural hospital? L saved me from a fall? A gorgon brought me back to life? I must be going insane.


    ¡°Far from it, you¡¯re only human.¡± L spoke, sitting at the foot of the bed.


    ¡°How the hell do you do that?¡± I yelled, jumping. A wicked pain shot down my back.


    ¡°I can travel through nearly every doorway into other doorways. It¡¯s one of the powers I was bestowed.¡± L spoke casually, his eyes mindlessly wandering the room. Before I could respond, he held his hand up and a mass of crystals shot forth covering the far wall. It was reminiscent of snowfall, or a cold snap made entirely of white crystals. ¡°I have the ability to do stuff like that too.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re-¡± I began.


    ¡°I¡¯m the Overseer of Eerie¡¯s Respite. The supernatural kind.¡± His words almost carried a serious tone. ¡°I saved you from the Rule-Breaker Zylas, and have Restricted her for such an action.¡±


    ¡°What do you- ¡°I began asking, before violent flashes struck through my mind in a chaotic pattern. My last memories were insufferable, but I distinctly remember¡­ L, in a doorway, looking at¡­ An unfathomable beast.


    ¡°I was tasked with overseeing your well-being for a bit, Daegon. How about we get you introduced to some more well-mannered beings.¡± L spoke, jumping off the bed and walking towards the door. It seemed to jostle a bit, but was blocked by his crystalline mass.


    With a simple wave from his hand, the crystals vanished and he opened the door.


    ¡°Sybil, here. Food?¡± The lady stated as the door slowly opened. Before L stood a mystified woman holding a small tray of items. Glancing down, Sybil let out a muffled squeal at his presence. She hastily scooted by L and approached me. In doing so, her odd facial structure was highlighted. She had an elongated skull, almost similar to that of an otter, with larger eyes and barely-visible whiskers in the darkened light. Barely noticeable fur stuck out from her shirt from around her neck.


    ¡°Daegon, food?¡± Sybil asked, in a rhythmic dancing of sounds. She held out the tray, showing a silvery bag of liquid, and a small bowl of stew. As well as small bottle with nothing visible within.


    ¡°I, uhm, y-yes please.¡± Stammering, I nervously accepted the items from her, as she quickly took the bottle off the tray. Outside of chance meetings, this might have been of first non-hostile encounter I¡¯ve experienced. Sybil seemed genuinely happy I accepted as I sat the tray onto my lap, and slowly motioned toward my arm with bottle in hand.


    ¡°Uh, bag is water. That, meat and food.¡± Sybil¡¯s inflections were very musical, and left me curious if that was intentional or just how she sounded. What was stranger, is that I didn¡¯t feel as nervous as I thought I should. Even as her warm hands began to glow lightly, and she made a small ¡®poke¡¯ with one of her nails to draw blood, I wasn¡¯t feeling worried.


    ¡°Is that how you naturally sound? Y-your voice, I mean.¡± I asked inquisitively, unsure how else to phrase it. Sybil looked puzzled at the question, perhaps not fully understanding it. She didn¡¯t stop her work though, as the glow transferred to the wound and slowly floated it into the bottle she procured.


    ¡°Dwq hzs sjk ybqze xy yxnxrzl dj dwq yjkmt jv nkyxg, Tzqcjm xy zyexmc xv sjk tj dwxy xmdqmdxjmzrrs.¡± Lord spoke in garbles, now back over on the two chairs he previously was laying across. Sybil¡¯s eyes widened, causing a flushed panic to cross her face. Looking down at my arm, it was as if blood was never drawn.


    ¡°A, ah, voice normal. It is just me, sorry.¡± Sybil lulled apologetically.


    ¡°O-oh no, I mean it¡¯s really nice. I was just curious.¡± I hastily responded. Sybil¡¯s expression seemed to quickly change back to happiness as she gave a few quick nods of approval.


    ¡°I need go, happy meet Daegon¡­ Oh! Blood for test, make sure not bad.¡± Sybil chirped, before quickly glancing back over to L and skittering out of the room.


    ¡°If you hurry up, I¡¯ll have less things to do later.¡± L bluntly spoke, flipping through the file once more. There was no fiber of my being that believed the events unfolding were real. But here I sat eating a stew in a building filled with boundless creatures. Perhaps by the end of this nightmare, I¡¯d awake on my couch once more, covered in a cold sweat pondering what life was. Perhaps, this was just another irreversible curse on my mind, plagued to repeat for nights to come.


    <hr>


    The room before me was massive, a gathering hall with marble pillars, beautiful displays, and a humbling aroma to tickle the senses of fantasy and feasts. At a glance, it almost felt like a masquerade ball, with the guests in high spirits and laughter abound. Under dressed, and overly cautious, I followed L as he carved a path through the crowd guiding us to a corner on the far side of the room. Wafts of alluring scents, a symphony of beautiful voices, and bedazzled people ogled or cooed as I passed.


    ¡°Though it would make it simpler to toss you in, just follow me.¡± Lord spoke slightly over the tones around us. It was odd watching such a nonchalant kid part the crowd, as if none wished to inconvenience him. ¡°Vukrar, Daegon. Daegon, Vukrar. Keep things civil.¡±


    A towering figure turned to face me, as its fierce physique jarred my senses. Around twice my height, it had two sets of crossed arms larger than my entire body. Vicious fangs protruded down its face, which contrasted with its obsidian complexion. Deep, fiery red eyes laid its gaze upon me. It snorted, as if dismissing my very presence.


    ¡°Lord brings forth such a weak human, entertainment for the gala?¡± It spoke in a deep, hardened tone.


    ¡°Contrary, those in attendance are its gala. Please do keep it safe, I have people to ignore.¡± Lord coldly suggested as he casually strolled past the figure to the wall, leaning against it and closing his eyes.


    ¡°Hrmm. Very well. Come human, lets have you acknowledge the futility of your existence.¡± Vukrar spoke, as it began to shrink in size. My mind must be in a dastardly overdriven state to produce such a creature in detail. A noticeable yawn sprung forth from L.


    ¡°Keep him within my view Vukrar, so he doesn¡¯t go insane.¡± L stretched, seemingly tired from this task already.


    ¡°Then, let the entertainment come to us.¡± The still-towering Vukrar spoke as it raised a massive arm and pointed outward to a group. I turned to view a being among them instantly take notice and bow slightly, before they began their approach as a group.


    ¡°Blzxyqy pq, Rjlt Fkelzl.¡±


    ¡°Hwzd tj yxnbrq Tqnjmy jhq dwxy fqls ybqgxzr jggzyxjm dj?¡±


    ¡°Zlq hq dj ztt yjnq vrzfjl dj dwxy wknzm pqvjlq gjmyknbdxjm?¡± The three spoke in a symphony of otherworldly praise. Despite the masks, it was obvious their eyes and other features were only human-adjacent. Without a doubt, they eyed me with some nefarious intent. A male of my height approached, and held a hand out.


    ¡°Drirgan, Viscount to, well that¡¯s unimportant. Tell me, do you like to dance?¡± The creature spoke charmingly, his hand of immaculate care. While his words were honeyed and sincere, it was obvious he planned for much more than just a dance.


    ¡°I, uhm, no sorry.¡± I shamefacedly answered.


    ¡°Oh you¡¯re scarring the little thing. Perhaps you just need to gently take care of such a delectable- ¡°The second creature of reddish color spoke, as both it and the purplish one flanked me. Their presence, while obtrusive, wasn¡¯t smothering. As soon as one touched my shoulder, they all seemed to recoil and backed off immediately.


    ¡°O-oh, I-I-I, n-no we all must apologize, w-we didn¡¯t know Royalty was in attendance. P-Please apologize to The First Consort, nay, Queen of the Night. W-we bid you adieu.¡± The trio seemed frightened, as if I was death standing before them. They ended up nearly falling over each other to kneel, and scurry away.


    A deep rumbling came from behind me, as Vukrar seemed to be boring a hole in my back with his glare. A shadow loomed over me, as he outstretched his arm again pointing towards another group. This time, a singular, clearly chimeric entity approached on four legs. Its head, a vicious crocodile, with a furry body reminiscent of a lion, and hind-quarters of a hippo¡¯s. Disregarding it being an entire foot taller than myself, it dwarfed any other natural creature in proportions.


    ¡°Duality of this life isn¡¯t fit for the scales, what travesty have you wrought Vukrar? Or rather, Lord?¡± It spoke in a surprisingly human tone, almost feminine.


    ¡°What are you?¡± I asked, more in awe than terror at the sight of such a creature. Regardless, I did end up stepping backwards a few steps to fully envision this beast. Leave it not for nightmares to leave a single detail out from them, to haunt those who finally wake.


    ¡°I am an Aspect of Ammit, I devour the impure. You¡­ Might pass, upon your death. Tell me human, when asked the Rites of Death, would you declare innocence?¡± Ammit asked, bringing its head down to meet my gaze.


    ¡°M-me? No¡­ I fear my life hasn¡¯t left any innocence within me. Why am I asking myself these questions? This¡­ It¡¯s all just a dream.¡± I spoke to Ammit, looking around and back to Vukrar. Vukrar¡¯s form seemed to have grown slightly, to keep its position above that of Ammits. L was nodding off in the background, unfazed. When would I wake?


    ¡°Perhaps you would listen to me then, oh conflicted one.¡± A new voice sprung to life. Turning around, Ammit moved aside to showcase a rather majestic figure. Similar to my size, but could only be described as royal attire made from nature itself¡­ A being of unmistakable beauty and mystery made its way up towards me. Though, its face was covered with a flawlessly blank mask, offering no hint at their true identity. ¡°Do not worry, Lord Vukrar. I merely tend to dispel any notions this naive one hosts. No ill will befall them on my behalf.¡±


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯m going insane anyways. What does this enigmatic forest being want me to hear?¡± I responded, with a slight chuckle. Tingling sensations sprung from my body, and it almost felt as if I was on the cusp of reawakening.


    ¡°Sadly human, you are not insane. You, are not currently asleep. All of this is very real, and you will realize that soon enough.¡± The being began. Shocks ran through my nerves, and my muscles began to spasm. Real, very real pain coursed through my existence as I fell to my knees. If¡­ If this is real, then¡­


    ¡°Fear me not human, and keep your wits. Live long enough and I¡¯ll provide you answers.¡± The enigmatic forest being loftily spoke.


    ¡°Haah- This is real? Really real? There¡¯s no reason you would help then.¡± I stammered, attempting to fight off this gnawing notion. The more I fought, the more I tried believing this was just a dream, the less I truly held to that. This was truly reality. With beasts all around me. With monsters waiting to strike.


    ¡°Pursue the CDS, expand your horizons, and come to terms with the world. Do that, and you¡¯ll have my attention.¡± The forest being announced, their voice commanding my very senses. As if a multitude of pins and needles pushed a blazing reality into every aspect of my being. A very chilling aura surrounded me and engulfed the floor. Small crystalline structures formed on my hands on the floor, as if drawn to my fright.


    ¡°I would suggest you dispose of your contracts, Kalth.¡± L demanded, albeit apathetically. His existence, which normally exuded some semblance of calm, seemed to have no effect currently. This insanity kept me locked on the inaccurate truths digging to my soul.


    ¡°The power of Disposal resides within the mortal. But, will he?¡± The enigmatic forest being, known as Kalth playfully inquired.


    ¡°I¡­ Want to¡­ Learn more¡­¡± With repressed desires as my final words, an unbearable reality sank in my mind, causing me to black out: Lord was an Overseer, there¡¯s more to the supernatural than contracts, I was saved by the supernatural, Life isn¡¯t as clear-cut as it used to be, my past needs answers, my present needs answers, my horizons should expand, I¡­ I want to find my place in the world¡­


    No matter how deeply I reject these notions, no matter the fear of my previous interactions, or how close to death I was brought, time and time again¡­ No matter what lies I spun for myself, this graverobber rebukes my deepest repressions. A glaring, white light fills my mind bringing forth a singularity ringing:


    Today was real.


    Today was real¡­


    Today¡­


    Was¡­


    Real¡­

 9-Cascade

    9-Cascade


    -Chapter Start: Present Day, August 6<sup>th</sup>, 1PM


    ¡°You can just force it out of me, you know.¡± Zylas¡¯ voice cut through the hum of chatter at the table. She leaned back, gaze fixated somewhere on the ceiling, indifferent to that around her. After the spectacle of Lord transferring Zylas¡¯ contract to me, which left both of us unconscious, I needed a full day to recover. Zylas, ever tenacious, was back up within hours.


    ¡°Zylas¡­¡± Ainai started, eyeing her as she rocked back and forth in her chair, precariously close to tipping over.


    ¡°What?¡± Zylas replied with a smirk. ¡°He just has to demand it from me.¡±


    ¡°Alright I get it¡­ What if you ask me questions first? I¡¯ll answer them all, and we¡¯ll go from there.¡± I rubbed my head slightly; the migraine I¡¯d woken up with showed no signs of fading. Zylas paused her rocking and met my gaze. It wasn¡¯t so much I wanted to look at her¡ªlooking anywhere else was too much pain to bear.


    ¡°Fine. Does that bitch have any control over me, or is it just you?¡± Zylas let the chair fall forward, her stare sharpening as she leaned across the table. In doing so, she nudged Valia¡¯s plate mid-cut, causing the fork to scrape.


    ¡°Think of her as someone else I have a contract with. She¡¯s¡­ You don¡¯t have to worry about her.¡± I spoke, wincing as the sound resonated within the confines of my head.


    ¡°Can you prove that?¡± Zylas hastily retorted.


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to be that stubborn, I can play intermediary.¡± Ainai spoke, her calm voice springing up from my right. Glancing over, I noticed she was¡­


    ¡°Oh? Well, this is unusual for you.¡± Zylas remarked, glancing over. Ainai appeared in her true form, with 3 tails now visible from behind her, tipped with a flaming blue orb. ¡°What¡¯s bringing out the fox to play?¡±


    Ainai glared at Zylas briefly, before standing up and moving her chair between us. Oddly, despite the vibrant glow the orbs radiated around her, the migraine was slowly melting away. Settling back down, she placed her hands on the table and took a deep breath.


    ¡°Before you two begin, I have my own question, Daegon.¡± Ainai¡¯s voice was calm as she leaned back slightly. I nodded, curious about what she wanted to know. ¡°What is your contract with the other being that resides within you?¡±


    A long pause ensued. For such a simple surface question, there was a complexity I wasn¡¯t sure how to begin with, nor fully answer.


    ¡°Well¡­ She¡¯s¡­¡± I began, attempting to formulate my response. A churning of grogginess began to wake up within me, as if coming out of a long hibernation.


    ¡°Does she have a name?¡± Valia interjected, having moved her plate over to Ainai¡¯s previous spot. She also seemed very interested in knowing more.


    ¡°Well, yes. But¡­ Knowing her name would cause a lot of problems. Especially if others outside of here knew.¡± I stated, looking between the four. ¡°I can¡¯t say much about the contract either, honestly. I can¡¯t even tell you when it was formed, or how long it has been¡­ But I can tell you that its impossible for both contracts to intermingle.¡±


    Another stirring of grogginess swept over me, and the smallest of murmurs entered my mind.


    ¡°Little Daegon, do you intend to trust these like those before?¡± She spoke, in the faintest of whispers on the edge of one¡¯s ear. A lulling, almost sorrowful feeling swept over me. Ainai took immediate notice of the interaction. But a bleak coating of memories covered my field of vision, and took control of my senses. There was movement around me, but it was impossible to see through the memories.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± I responded, potentially out loud.


    ¡°It will repeat¡­¡± She spoke, as if attempting to maintain the barely audible speech. ¡°Are we¡­ making an Amend?¡±


    ¡°You approve of them?¡± I asked, shaking the cascade of memories from my gaze. Valia was still sitting on the other side of the table, with a new plate of food. Despite her appetite, it was apparent she was still focused on me. Carna had elected to sit down finally, taking up residence where Ainai previously was to my right. She held a quiet conversation with Valia, but nothing I could make out. Zylas hadn¡¯t moved since we started, glaring at me intently. And Ainai¡­


    ¡°Put yourself at ease, there¡¯s no need to answer.¡± Ainai spoke from behind me, her hands on my shoulder. An enormous wave of soothing warmth had enveloped me, and for quite some time at this point. It appeared to be there since Ainai stood up, but I was completely oblivious until I focused back on reality. It slowly left me though, as she sat back down.


    ¡°So, the cum-rag isn¡¯t telling us anything, nothing new there.¡± Zylas snarked.


    ¡°What the fuck, Zylas.¡± Carna said in a whisper, wide-eyed at such a remark.


    ¡°What? Not like- ¡°Zylas began to snap back, but was cut off.


    ¡°Daegon and¡­ His guest, are going to tell you Zylas. I think that much was just decided.¡± Ainai interjected, keeping a calm, sincere voice and presence. Perhaps I was overthinking it; but as unsettlingly serene as Ainai was, if she ever turned to nefarious deeds, she would be unstoppable. ¡°What were you just thinking?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ Just that, if you preyed on humans, I don¡¯t think there would be any way to stop you.¡± I said, as if my mouth had a mind of its own. I froze realizing what I said, while Ainai snorted lightly.


    ¡°Yeah she¡¯d be at the top of both worlds if she let loose. I wouldn¡¯t stand a chance¡­ Ainai, what the fuck!¡± Zylas muttered, realizing too late she was also under Ainai¡¯s influence. Valia burst with laughter, gasping for air between breaths.


    ¡°If you didn¡¯t feel the need to comment on everything, you wouldn¡¯t have said that.¡± Ainai replied with a smile, looking back over to Zylas. Carna turned to Valia, a sense of mischievousness crossed her face.


    ¡°Hey Valia, how do you feel about Daegon?¡± Carna asked in a cunning tone.


    ¡°Carna!¡± Ainai nearly shouted, but it wasn¡¯t enough to stop Valia¡¯s response.


    ¡°I mean I¡¯d carry-¡° Valia began before Zylas slammed her fist onto the table, rattling everything in discord.


    ¡°X''n mjd wqlq vjl sjk dhj dj vkge zljkmt.¡± Zylas growled. Valia covered her mouth and Carna was left awe-struck, despite Zylas¡¯ aggression.


    ¡°Can we please not make so much noise? My head is going to explode if this keeps up.¡± I beckoned, covering my face with my hands, slowly rubbing my temples. Whatever Ainai was doing to soothe me, seemed to pale in comparison to the new wave of agony. A sudden wave of lulling hypnotic power coursed through me, as I pulled my hands away to see dark pulses of purple run under my skin through my veins. The migraine remained, but reverted back to its original pre-crippling strength. A subtle, but noticeable squint came from Ainai, watching whatever just happened unfold.


    ¡°Lets start from the beginning then. Daegon, are you certain you¡¯re the only one holding the contract?¡± Ainai asked, looking me over again. Another wave of warmth pulsed from her, though to little effect this time.


    ¡°How am I supposed to know?¡± I replied, resting an elbow on the table and covering my right eye with one hand. My whole body ached, and I wished I could be anywhere but here. The pounding migraine made this conversation an uphill struggle.


    ¡°<u>Mmm¡­ Pups chest has a crest¡­¡±</u> A voice tiredly, slowly, sprung forth from me. All eyes, which fixated on me, slowly shifted to Zylas. She glanced down and unzipped her jacket, exposing bare skin. In the middle of her chest laid an unmistakable emblem, roughly the size of her hand.


    ¡°No shit.¡± Zylas said, almost sounding impressed.


    ¡°Is something off?¡± Ainai asked carefully, glancing back over to me. She was more concerned for my wellbeing than Zylas¡¯ contract.


    ¡°Well it¡¯s my old contract, verbatim. Wait... Looks like Lord made a last-minute addendum before passing it on.¡± Zylas said curiously.


    <u>¡°¡®First Fallen, Mother of Wisdom, and Seductress of Eden, will never hold Domain over one Zylas Etertwight¡¯. So long as you bear that name, and that contract holds true, I cannot command you through it.¡±</u> An exhausted voice once again borrowed my lips. A deep pain seemed to resonate through me, but only laid within her¡­ Are you¡­ Alright?


    ¡°What kind of bullshit name is Etertwight?¡± Zylas barked.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ My last name.¡± I replied dumbfounded. A name I haven¡¯t heard in years, even from her. ¡°When... I became host to¡­ To her, I didn¡¯t have a middle or last name. To seal our contract, she bestowed upon me one such¡­ Briorth Etertwight. But, those haven¡¯t been spoken since that day, and now.¡±


    ¡°Lord learned your last name, and used it to solidify a Contract to bar your ¡®other¡¯ contract from controlling Zylas? Also, isn¡¯t that beyond the norm for him? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever heard an Overseer taking interest in anything beyond Rule-Breakers.¡± Carna asked, looking puzzled.


    ¡°<u>I made a bet with Lord, and it seems he¡¯s a sore loser. Both him and Zylas are far more exceptional than they know.¡±</u> She spoke again, a bit livelier than previously.


    Before anyone could follow up with their questions, the sounds of a door quickly opening and closing a few rooms down could be heard. Then, another, and another.


    ¡°What the fuck is going on.¡± Zylas snarled as she stood up to quickly make her way down the hallway. A few moments later, she returned with the mail-delivery faun in hand, literally.


    ¡°Sorry! Sorry sorry, terribly sorry! I have a quick, quick quick important delivery for Daegon! Top priority delivery!¡± The faun pouted slightly until Zylas dropped them. They hastily walked up to me with a letter in hand.


    ¡°Time sensitive, Special Request. Please come in as soon as you can.¡± They whispered closely to me, attempting to not let the others hear. Oddly, it looked like a magic circle formed in front of their mouth when they spoke. The faun quickly shuffled away and nearly ran into Zylas as they looked back down into their courier bag for their next delivery. Zylas let out a low snarl, causing the faun to bolt to a door much further away, exiting as quickly as they could. Opening the letter, it was just as they said. Someone, or rather, something, has requested me to deliver a parcel by the end of the day. I looked over to Zylas, a bit concerned with having to end this conversation early.


    ¡°Look, if you got shit to do than fine, go do it. But I¡¯ll beat the answers out of you next time if I have to.¡± Zylas responded before turning about and walking off in a huff. Ainai gave a small sigh of relief, gave a glancing smile, and walked off after Zylas.


    ¡°Sooo¡­ Valia, what exactly were you willing to carry for Daegon?¡± Carna quipped up, before being punched in the shoulder.


    ¡°Ask again, and I¡¯m turning you into a rug Carna!¡±


    <hr>


    With a swish of the Travelers Rune, and a flick of the doorknob, a rather lulling blue hallway appeared before me. Looking behind me, Valia gave a light wave as she stood in the kitchen area of my house before the door closed. Memories of my first mishap using the rune kept my mind sharpened for these attempts. The jump to my house, and now to the original CDS shipping area Lord brought me to after saving my life, went off without a hitch. I was a bit overprepared this time it felt, gearing up with some more special equipment for adventuring. Despite the preparedness, it was mostly wilderness survival items in a small backpack. Though, this felt more like a placebo when my partner Jaskrim is considered. Looking back, the hallway shrunk, and brought me within walking distance of a large desk with a suit of armor behind it. The armor itself was missing its head, with a decently sized green flame coming from its neck. Whatever it was doing with the various papers and folders was keeping its attention rather than my closing presence.


    ¡°Uh, hello.¡± I sheepishly spoke. Its attention instantly turned to me as the armor-clad body quickly stood up. A horrifying floating skull covered in green fire immediately raced up to meet my gaze from below. It screamed, rupturing forth a merciless sound before abruptly stopping.


    ¡°Oh! You¡¯re Daegon!¡± It echoed in a humbling, but still terrifying garbled way. The skull quickly spun in circles, causing the flames to brighten and forcing me to close my eyes. Slowly opening my eyes after a few seconds, the skull seemed to turn into a ghostly, almost porcelain white face of a young woman with scars running down the cheeks. Her eyes, a clouded green that have long since seen life rolled about until locking into a ¡®humanlike¡¯ stare. The flair of her ghostly white hair sprung forth, as she slowly floated back in forth. Her hair streamed behind her in a hypnotic rhythm, as if possessed by the symphony of her previous life. Finally, her expressions awakened, as she quickly scrunched, squished, and made various faces as if remembering how to do so. Quickly, her head floated back towards me, giving me her full attention.


    ¡°I thought you were a trespasser I¡¯d have to scoop the eyes out of, sorry about that. Call me Duals!¡± She spoke in a chipper and rather foreign tone, with haunting inflections that seemed to drag the words in a quiet endless echo. Duals body was still that of a suit of armor, with a much calmer flame coming from the neck than previously. ¡°You must be here for that delivery! You sure are quick for a human, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be here for a while.¡±


    ¡°Oh, they did issue me a rune, I just used that to travel home to get my stuff¡­ Is uh, Jaskrim here by any chance?¡± I asked as Duals quickly began to sort through paperwork and files once more. She stopped for a second to eye me, as she unwrapped a sucker and popped it into their mouth.


    ¡°You know, CDS has strict rules on using that stone¡­ Under normal circumstances I bet they¡¯d wallop ya good for doin¡¯ that¡­ Nah, you¡¯ll be fine since you¡¯re human, you used it for work. I¡¯ll clear it here for ya just in case. Give¡¯em a good note from yours truly.¡± Duals spoke happily, her body working on one task as the head flew about looking at other things. ¡°Oh, and it looks like the big guy just clocked out, want me to call¡¯em?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, if that¡¯s poss- ¡°I began to say before a high-pitched buzzing sound rang out, causing me to cover my ears. It only lasted a few seconds, but with that migraine still fresh, and Duals previous scream, it seemed reignite the throbbing pains I had gotten used to. After about a minute, my head seemed to calm down and I heard a distinct ¡®ring¡¯ sound come from behind me, followed by a few large ¡®thumps¡¯.


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    ¡°Daegon!¡± Jaskrim yelled, giving me just a few moments to turn around before being inexplicably squeezed to death. Despite previous times, he had quite a noticeably different smell to him. Almost, floral.


    ¡°Hey there big guy. Are you tagging along today?¡± I asked as he sat me back down. He looked puzzled, and looked down onto himself. He wasn¡¯t wearing his uniform, and it just struck me the color of his armored plates were a near identical match to his uniforms.


    ¡°I just clocked out; did they give you an assignment?¡± He asked curiously. I handed him the note I was given, which quickly turned into a concerning look.


    ¡°Qogkyq nq, tj sjk wzfq dwq ywqqd vjl dwxy lqikqyd?¡± Jaskrim asked a question I didn¡¯t quite catch.


    ¡°Yjlls, xd yqqny dwq Lqikqyd gzm jmrs pq ywjhm dj Tzqcjm.¡± Duals responded in kind, as her head flew over to me. ¡°Meaning, you¡¯re not allowed to share its information with anyone else that isn¡¯t listed. You¡¯re the only one requested.¡±


    ¡°Only myself?¡± I questioned, who in the right mind would ask for just a human to deliver something?


    ¡°They asked for you by name, even left an incentive. That¡¯s pretty rare honestly. You normally get paid for the job through the CDS, and whatever being wanting it delivers pays the cost in advance. This being both a delivery, and a reward on delivery is quite the rarity. Especially for such a simple job.¡± Duals said, her head flying around me before heading back.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem right¡­¡± Jaskrim said worriedly.


    ¡°Nope, that¡¯s right! Here it is. Daegon Etertwight, Human Male, to personally deliver¡­ Yadda yadda yadda, to¡­ The client. Yup! It¡¯s all here. They said the reward is the package itself, once you deliver it.¡± Duals said with haste. A cold chill ran down my spine hearing my last name again. I don¡¯t know how, or why, but L has to be behind this as well.


    ¡°Daegon, this doesn¡¯t sound right at all. If they¡¯re asking you to come alone, it¡¯s not safe.¡± Jaskrim stated looking back over to Duals.


    ¡°Why? You do your job alone a lot. Nothing bads ever happened to you¡­ Well, besides those like¡­ Two¡­ Three¡­ Five times? Who¡¯s keeping count.¡± Duals said as her head did a little nodding, almost like dancing, as they were reading over a file. Surprisingly, it seemed they picked up the file with whatever magic kept their head afloat and was reading it in front of them.


    ¡°But Daegon¡¯s a human! Plus, the package is for him. They¡¯re most definitely not- ¡°Jaskrim began before being cut off. Duals ¡®threw¡¯ the file upwards in the air and quickly rushed over to Jaskrim, glaring. In the background, the file leisurely flew back down and was claimed by the body who promptly sorted it.


    ¡°The client is verified, and has been for a long time. The CDS wouldn¡¯t have approved him doing this if his safety wasn¡¯t at least somewhat, mostly guaranteed if he sticks to protocol. Besides, he needs to do the tougher jobs eventually. Worst case he declines the job, right?¡± Duals once again spoke in haste. Her head floated back over to me, as she squinted as if looking for my reaction. She was slowly moving the sucker around from one side of her mouth to the other.


    ¡°I can decline?¡± I pondered the new revelation.


    ¡°And you should!¡± Jaskrim quickly stated.


    ¡°Of course you can decline, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re monsters.¡± Duals paused, before bursting out into laughter, nearly tearing up from their joke. ¡°But seriously, Special Requests like these are an oddity. If they¡¯re requesting one, and only one CDS member, you have every right to decline regardless of what they want delivered. All clients are aware we deliver in a minimum group of two.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s the client, then? Is it someone I should be worried about?¡± I asked, an uneasy feeling nestled deep within. Curiosity was a poison of mine, and it already set in. If L was behind this, I don¡¯t feel he would intentionally put me in a situation I couldn¡¯t overcome.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be se- ¡°Jaskrim began before getting cut off.


    ¡°Hmm, how I put this in human words¡­ Arch-Lord Kalth, of the Fae.¡± Duals spoke after some particularly interesting thinking noises, and floating unsettlingly close. The cunning dealmakers and the phantasmal wordplay, trickery and deceit from every word they say. ¡°It says here, ¡®We agree to make no such moves that would hinder your work at the CDS or daily life outside of it¡¯. Pretty sweet deal if you ask me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ Odd.¡± I spoke, confused by this job. Duals nodded in agreement and wisped herself away. On one side, a very powerful being wishes to meet, and promises no ill will outright. With, an extra gift to boot. But on the other, they want me to go alone. They said ¡®we¡¯, but didn¡¯t clarify who ¡®we¡¯ is¡­ Do they have a third party that would intervene? Also, why does ¡®Kalth¡¯ sound so familiar to me?


    ¡°It is odd Daegon, please don¡¯t accept this. I would feel much better if we could request me to go along as well.¡± Jaskrim said, very obviously worried about this whole ordeal.


    ¡°I doubt it, the Fae are very mingy about things like this. It¡¯ll be this, or nothing.¡± Duals spoke once more. ¡°So, what¡¯ll be Mister Human?¡±


    The deadline was by the end of the day, while I had more than enough time to reason it out¡­ That isn¡¯t in your nature, is it little one? If it is the Fae, I will be in full attendance¡­ That¡¯s more concerning than the job, if she¡¯s willing to stay in attendance¡­


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it. Don¡¯t worry Jaskrim, I still owe you an explanation about my friend, right? I¡¯ll be back.¡± I stated with a smile. His concern didn¡¯t seem to fade away, but he acknowledged my resolve.


    ¡°Alright, but if you¡¯re not back by tomorrow I¡¯m going to check on you myself regardless of what the CDS says.¡± He spoke, probably the first time with such an authoritative tone around me.


    ¡°I ain¡¯t gonna stop ya.¡± Duals spoke, her head floating back to the table. Her armored body stood, and walked over to me handing a decently sized package. If I had to guess, it was a rather large book, or bundles of documents. ¡°Take this here, by yourself as agreed upon. Failure to do so voids any protection the CDS offers. Normal rules apply, so don¡¯t go makin¡¯ trouble for others in the area and they shouldn¡¯t for you.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°You new? Or lookin¡¯ for a job?¡± An exhausted, older office worker asked as I entered the rather clean elevator. Despite the peculiar foreign sounds he spoke, I understood him completely thanks to the Travelers¡¯ Rune I had promptly secured around my neck.


    ¡°No, just here to deliver a package.¡± I said hesitantly. He looked up slightly to see me after I pressed a button to the top floor.


    ¡°For the President? How odd. Can I have your name young man?¡± He asked looking at the package. A strange tinge pried at the back of my neck, and a jarring shake from the elevator sprung us upward.


    ¡°Oh uh, you mean this?¡± I stuttered, pointing to the freshly placed name tag on my uniform. I couldn¡¯t read the inscription, and Duals insisted I point to it whenever someone asked me for my name and that I don¡¯t translate it. The older worker smiled, and gave a small chuckle.


    ¡°Youths these days, so carefree. What would you have said if I was blind?¡± He asked.


    ¡°I-uh¡­ Want one of these?¡± I stammered, realizing I wasn¡¯t allowed to apologize as I held out a handful of butterscotch candies. I had a crash course slammed into me by Jaskrim before my departure, as Duals let slip where I was going. This Dominion had a curious effect on all those who entered. While it might seem like a normal building, and most of the entities inside of it were human, there were laws dictating the very flow of things here. Questions can be quite literal, and apologies were an indication of guilt that others could act upon. It¡¯s best to say nothing at all if possible, and don¡¯t get too comfortable around anyone within. If cornered, try offering something to deflect anything the target might want from you. No matter how unassuming, treat everyone with immense suspicion.


    Ding! Third floor.


    ¡°A piece of advice for the treat, you¡¯ll need to hop multiple elevators if you¡¯re going to the top. Try floor five for your next one.¡± The older worker spoke popping the candy he took before getting off.


    Ding! The elevator door closed, and slowly began its ascent. It was odd, but I¡¯m pretty sure he was telling the truth. Heeding his advice, I pressed the fifth button.


    Ding! The doors open, and as I began to exit, a group of workers entered filling the elevator. A rather close call to being packed inside; The old man might be right.


    ¡°A newbie to help turn the cogs of the machine, eh?¡± Another voice sprung up to my right from a cubical. ¡®Isamu¡¯ was on the name plaque on the wall, polished to a fine sheen.


    ¡°No, uh, package delivery. Just going to the top.¡± I quickly retorted looking over, before looking back at the elevator area. But the elevators were replaced with lines of cubicles.


    ¡°Such a sad day to get lost.¡± Isamu replied, continuing their work without looking over. ¡°You sure you can¡¯t stay for a moment?¡±


    ¡°Nope, so- so long though!¡± I quickly caught myself as a pain jolted down my right arm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry little thing, I¡¯ll be sure to keep you from doing anything too trivializing.¡± It almost felt like it went numb, before going back to normal. Making my way through the now maze of cubicles, it almost looked like I was lost.


    ¡°Hey there, can I get your ideas for this report?¡± A voice sprung up from a cubical I was walking by. ¡°I can show you the way to an elevator if so.¡±


    ¡°Sur-¡° I was cut off by my hand going numb. ¡°Your ideas¡­¡± ¡°Surely, others would be better for that than I. But I appreciate the offer.¡±


    ¡°Aw man, it¡¯ll never get done in time then.¡± A saddened response came. I paused, looking back. Part of me was curious, too curious, about what all these folk were working on. With a deep sigh, I steeled myself and continued onwards. It felt as if I passed hundreds, if not thousands of these before I finally came to another section of elevators.


    ¡°What a relief.¡± I said pressing the up arrow. Walking through the cubicles put me onto the nineth floor, which felt like a minor victory in terms of how my previous Dominion experience went. Another employee holding a large, fresh cup of coffee came and stood next to me, their expression looked dreadful.


    ¡°Forty-seven thousand, nine hundred and sixty-three¡­ Carry the five¡­¡± they appeared to be deep in their own world of office work.


    Ding! An empty elevator arrived, as I hastily got in and pressed the top floor button. Slowly, the dreadful looking worker dragged himself into the elevator, still murmuring various equations. I held the door, as it wanted to close before he would have made it in.


    Ding!


    ¡°Thanks.¡± He murmured, as he went back to his numbers. The elevator jolted up, as he slowly pressed the button for floor 12.


    Ding! The doors opened on floor 10, as a rather tall and well-suited lady walked in, also clearly overworked. My heart-rate jumped, as for a second, she had a similar complexion to Ainai. She was definitely taller, and more built, but she felt off. I ended up sliding to the side away from the number pad behind the exhausted guy who entered with me. I don¡¯t think she honestly noticed me at all as she pressed the close button and slumped against the wall.


    Ding! Floor 12, and the guy in front of me slowly made his escape. The doors closed and I glanced over to see no other buttons were pressed except the top floor. Was she going there as well?


    ¡°Uuuuuggghhhh. I¡¯m gonna die here at this rate. Just one more meeting¡­¡± She moaned, slowly pushing herself back up and looking over at the buttons. ¡°Did I¡­?¡±


    ¡°You alright, miss?¡± I asked carefully.


    ¡°Oh fuck off, I don¡¯t have time for your dumb kinds tricks. My days almost over.¡± She said without even turning about.


    ¡°Y-you¡¯re not Fae-bound?¡± I asked, a bit confused from her response. That was more than enough to get her to turn around and look at me. Her eyes were that of a green, almost yellow color.


    ¡°Are you?¡± She asked with a tired, but stern look. Getting a better look at her, I fear my initial glance at her was the only thing similar to Ainai. Her hair was obviously dyed, a deep dark shade of pink, nearly or perhaps magenta. It would be fair to say she was a middle-ground between Zylas and Ainai when it came to facial features. But it did make me question if this region might be where Ainai originated.


    ¡°Gods no. I¡¯m here to deliver a package.¡± I responded.


    ¡°Alone? What are you then, some type of¡­ Doppelganger? Elemental? What monster walks into a place like this of their own free will?¡± She asked, crossing her arms in the same tone.


    Ding! The doors opened, and two workers began to get in before seeing the woman and slowly backed out, allowing the doors to close. ¡°Ooh, those Fae were afraid of her¡­ But she¡¯s just human, this is interesting. You might want to see if you can get on her good side, but watch your tongue.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m human, just like you¡­ This Dominion is very specific with its wording, right? Could a Fae say something like that?¡± I spoke after the doors closed and we began moving again.


    ¡°Only an idi-... Wait, you¡¯re delivering a package¡­¡± She began, as she looked me up and down, then back to the elevator buttons. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a crumbled piece of paper before looking me over once again.


    ¡°CDS Delivery?¡± She asked, uncrumpling the paper.


    ¡°Yeah, for uh, top floor.¡± I responded, unsure how much to say.


    ¡°So, Director Kalth? I¡¯m his secretary.¡± She spoke once more, now eyeballing the package. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve lost another wager, no way in hell did I think a normie would be stupid enough to just walk into a place like this. How did you even get this far?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± I began to speak before-


    Ding! The 21<sup>st</sup> floor opened, and a shorter female walked in eyeballing the secretary.


    ¡°My, wouldn¡¯t it be nice if we were alone in here?¡± The new lady asked, in quite a sultry tone. She leaned on the opposite wall from the secretary closer to me, and slowly pushed a foot up and against the wall raising her skirt slightly.


    ¡°Never.¡± The secretary simply said, as she placed her back against the far wall watching the new shorter lady eye her up and down. The secretary had quite the agitated aura, despite the stalwart neutral expression she forced. The elevator shook, and a pen that was lodged into a stack of folders flops to the ground from the shorter lady. A small glint reflected from her pink eyes as she smiled in my direction.


    ¡°Oh dear, young man can you get that for me my hands are so full.¡± She asked with a charming smile. I began to reach for it when suddenly a flow of purple energy shot through my veins and clenched my muscles¡­ This was also a trap?


    ¡°C-can¡¯t do that.¡± I said, straightening back up as my muscles untensed.


    ¡°Oh that¡¯s fine, you lovely little thing. I think that one was out of ink anyways. Wouldn¡¯t want to waste time on something empty, right? Better we forget it? The time just flies by here, you must be exhausted from all the work today. You¡¯re not from around here, right? Work ends in an hour, perhaps we could give you a tour of the city. We could spice up that resume of yours with more formal practices.¡± The shorter lady spoke in such a carefree way, it almost made me forget where I was. I opened my mouth to respond, but the glare of the secretary made me stop.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ Incredibly devious.¡± I spoke aloud, realizing the numerous pitfalls and catastrophes she laid in a simple dialogue.


    ¡°Can¡¯t blame a girl for trying to get some alone time with their wife.¡± The shorter lady smirked, as-


    Ding! ¡°Don¡¯t worry work wifey, I¡¯ll be here when you need more alone time in a seclu-¡± She was saying as the elevator door quickly closed. The secretary was white-knuckling the ¡®close door¡¯ button. She glared at me momentarily before letting loose another long sigh.


    ¡°Utagawa, Rinako.¡± She said, leaning back over on the wall.


    ¡°Daegon.¡± I stated simply, happy the tension finally broke.


    ¡°Sadly, I knew that, your name is listed on my document.¡± Utagawa said loosening the tie around her neck. It seemed our destination was rather close now, and I was hoping no other distractions would interfere.


    ¡°Who was-¡± I began to ask, as Utagawa cleared her throat.


    ¡°Fuzu Rinako, once a Fae of the Court, now my wife. Yes, I was tricked. No, I can¡¯t divorce. But at least I got the better end of the stick.¡± She spoke as if this was the hundredth time today saying such a statement.


    ¡°Sor-uh¡­ Gotcha.¡± I began, catching myself. She looked me over again, slowly rolling her neck side-to-side. Utagawa began to destress it felt like, clearly no longer worried about my presence.


    ¡°Listen, I know how this entire thing is about to go down.¡± Utagawa began.


    Ding! She took a step out, and blocked the elevator door with her foot. ¡°You don¡¯t seem like a bad guy, so I¡¯ll offer you some advice. Kalth isn¡¯t going to finalize this delivery today to sweat you out, knowing you can¡¯t return until it¡¯s done.¡±


    ¡°Wh-what? But, the package¡­¡± I began before she held up her hand.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s for you. But he won¡¯t sign until the last moment, tomorrow afternoon just before he leaves for the day. By then, you¡¯d be bombarded by hundreds of other creatures to get you in some type of pact with them, that he¡¯ll use to leverage whatever sick gains he wants from you.¡± Utagawa spoke, as if this wasn¡¯t the first, or last time this would happen.


    ¡°So, I just have to¡­¡± I began, before she held her hand up again to pause me.


    ¡°You have to turn down, not help, or accept anything from anyone over the course of the next day. Sorry to say but you¡¯re a bit out of your depth here, seeing how you nearly fell for Fuzu¡¯s trickery.¡± Utagawa spoke, as the potential future dawned on me. ¡°Here it comes, Daegon. Listen well.¡± ¡°I want to make you an offer.¡±


    ¡°Why would you be willing to help me? Especially against your employer?¡± I asked, as a rush of concerns flushed through my mind. A multitude of scenarios, all overly complex, seemed to captivate my senses.


    ¡°Honestly? Because I¡¯m sick and tired of this company, and I¡¯m no longer under their spell¡­ Plus, you might be able to help me, and you¡¯re not from around here. You scream outsider. Maybe I need an outside perspective on things.¡± Utagawa spoke as she nodded for me to exit the elevator. The door closed behind me and I entered into a small, but elaborate waiting area. A fair number of luxurious chairs stretched across a wall with an extravagant painting, giving a majestic view of the city below. Utagawa walked behind the ornately carved desk and grabbed a few files before walking back over.


    ¡°Listen, you can crash at my place to avoid most of this. But only if you think you can help me with this Wife problem I have.¡± Utagawa spoke firmly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have knowledge¡­¡± Utagawa gave a stern look at me once more, as if telling me to keep quiet.


    ¡°I¡¯m not asking you do the impossible, I¡¯m just asking, maybe become a preferred delivery provider for me and, maybe you find out some information on your deliveries¡­ And, while you¡¯re here, maybe distance me from that vampire of a wife I have.¡± Utagawa quietly spoke. ¡°She is in luck, I have quite a bit of knowledge on how the Fae work, nefarious little things. We should accept this, Little Daegon.¡±


    ¡°Al¡­¡± Once again, she holds a hand up, this time pushing a finger to her lips. Honestly, it was getting a bit annoying to be cut off so much, but I bit my tongue knowing it was probably for a good reason.


    ¡°Director Kalth is available for you to see now, Daegon.¡± Utagawa spoke as she walked over to the far door. Opening it, she stepped in and ushered me to follow.


    ¡°Nothing ventured¡­¡± ¡°Nothing gained.¡±

 10-Between Worlds

    10-Between Worlds


    -Chapter Start: August 7<sup>th</sup>, 12:20PM <Time Zone Difference, + 18hrs>


    "Ah, now there¡¯s a familiar face. I didn¡¯t expect you to come so willingly, Mox Daegon." A striking figure sat before me, dressed with an air of regal elegance. His beauty eclipsed any human comparison, with leaves and branches woven seamlessly into the contours of his face and shoulders. Green tattoos, like intricate vines, adorned his skin, glowing in rhythmic pulses that seemed to breathe with life. His eyes were reminiscent of the others, though comparing them would be an insult. A fierce, unnatural pink iris dominated his gaze, slit pupils gleaming with a beauty that bordered on dangerous. Despite their allure, the sound of his voice, and the use of Mox stirred an unsettling unease within me.


    "Tell me, has the package arrived safely?" Director Kalth inquired as he addressed Utagawa, the door clicking shut behind me.


    "Yes, Director." Utagawa responded without hesitation.


    "Splendid. Now then, Daegon, I trust your journey was enlightening. Rest assured, I anticipated your arrival and prepared accordingly. I must apologize, however, for the delay. This was intended to be handled at the front desk, to prevent... unnecessary advances." Kalth¡¯s voice remained even as he flicked a piece of parchment toward me. Not just any parchment, though. ¡°A Fae-Bound Contract, similar in binding strength of an Infernal. Read carefully, and don¡¯t touch.¡±


    "To summarize, this is your safeguard in dealings with me, Mox Daegon." Kalth continued, his tone smooth and calculated. "As a human, I understand your reluctances when it comes to interacting with our kind." Utagawa moved to my right as the paper levitated to me, her quick hands snatching it out of the air before it reached me. With her back to Kalth, she positioned it within the folder she held, lifting a pen as I began to study the text.


    ¡®I, Arch-Lord Kalth, Fae of the Court, give rite of passage to one Daegon Etertwight, to the Dominion of Shinpo no t¨­, to help facilitate the delivery of CDS goods, and the safe return outside of Shinpo no t¨­. During said time of delivery, no obfuscation of paths will occur to inhibit movement of Daegon Etertwight. The trickery that is laid on the groundwork of Shinpo no t¨­ shall become clear to Daegon Etertwight. During such deliveries, any and all deals made will immediately be null and void by order of the Fae Court that oversees Shinpo no t¨­. For clarity: the rules for deals, trickery, and deviousness, also apply to Arch-Lord Kalth. Each CDS-approved delivery requesting Daegon directed to Arch-Lord Kalth allows a reinstating of this Contract, by the will of Daegon alone. Said grace period is set to 24 hours, and cannot be invalidated by any means.¡¯


    ¡°That¡­ Certainly seems genuine.¡± I muttered, unable to spot any trickery myself in the contract.


    "Wonderful to hear." Kalth said, his enthusiasm slightly more pronounced now. Utagawa, though unmoving, wore a look that mirrored the one she''d had in the elevator when Fuzu made her comments. ¡°The trick to this contract is the grace period, and specifically targeting Kalth. If you sign this, he cannot accept the package due to it concluding a contract between you two.¡± If that¡¯s true, then should I even sign this? ¡°You should. If you don¡¯t, he might grow suspicious of Utagawa¡¯s involvement. The real power play here would be to sign it, then point out the flaw.¡±


    I smiled at Utagawa as I took the pen she was holding, shifting the package still in my hands a bit, though she did not seem very amused. With her thoughts blending with mine, a bit of a nefarious idea was spun.


    ¡°Perhaps, Arch-Lord Kalth, you¡¯d be willing to help explain something to me.¡± I said, my pen hovering just above the signature box.


    ¡°Of course. As I¡¯ll be bound by the contract, you can rest assured that anything I say will be entirely genuine.¡± Kalth replied, his lips curling into a knowing smile.


    I shot him a strained smile of my own and signed the contract. Utagawa made no move to acknowledge the action, her disapproval palpable as I held up the signed contract. She remained silent, keeping her back to Kalth as I approached his desk. My steps felt heavier than they should have, and a wave of anxiety washed over me, each forward movement threatening to derail my resolve.


    "Can you explain to me why you set a 24-hour grace period?" I asked, my voice streaked with uncertainty as I carefully placed the contract on the desk. "Because of it, I can¡¯t deliver the package as you¡¯ve requested. Why not simply write a clause that exempts package delivery, just as you¡¯ve specifically targeted yourself?"


    The question faltered as my courage wavered. I tried to maintain composure, to emulate her cold demeanor, but I could feel my nerves betraying me. A muffled chuckle from within echoed in my mind, mocking my hesitation. Kalth¡¯s smile widened at the sound of my words, his gaze flickering from the contract to me, a glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes.


    ¡°Yet you signed it regardless. My you¡¯ve grown in such a short time¡­ Very well, I¡¯ll tell you. Utagawa, you¡¯re dismissed for the day. Take your time leaving, if you wish.¡± Kalth said as he stood up, and walked to the various planter boxes behind him. I had initially thought he was wearing some kind of flowing garment, but as he turned, he revealed two sets of wings¡ªtwo at his shoulders, and two lower at his hips. They were ethereal, almost transparent, like the remnants of a starry night sky.


    ¡°What do you mean, I¡¯ve grown?¡± I asked, glancing back at Utagawa as she closed the door behind her. Even though I only caught a brief glimpse, I could have sworn she was amused by the unfolding turn of events.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure even a human would remember that Gala nearly a month ago. Many other Lords do, I can say that. A mere human not only stumbled in with the Lord, but possesses a lineage of Royal Demon lying dormant within. You¡¯re a big unknown, in quite a small pond.¡± Kalth¡¯s words sent sharp pains through my mind, and flashes of that night¡ªvivid, real¡ªflooded back, only to be swiftly muted. His smile didn¡¯t fade as he turned back around and approached his desk with slow, deliberate steps. ¡°I see you remember well, and that you haven¡¯t Disposed of your intrigue. Humanity sure is a curious one.¡±


    ¡°What of my other questions?¡± I pressed, motioning toward the contract. ¡°I¡¯ve acknowledged the gambit; wouldn¡¯t it be in good sport to tell me what I¡¯m getting myself into?¡±


    ¡°Oh, truly a fair statement. I merely planned to report a delayed delivery of CDS goods to my secretary as they were leaving. I would have to meet them on the ground floor, knowing their walking pace and tempo of this conversation.¡± His voice dropped, the familiar trickster edge flaring as he returned to his seat. ¡°Thankfully, it¡¯s only a mere 24 hours. Finding accommodations for a CDS agent would be trivial, your job is rather well respected in this Bastion you see.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving out the why.¡± I retorted, my nerves beginning to fray, but I held steady, refusing to let the conversation unravel.


    ¡°Hmmm¡­ Well, the contract prohibits me from making deals and other tricks during the time its in effect. I guess in human terms, my curiosity will be satiated once you arrive tomorrow.¡± Kalth¡¯s gaze grew more intense, his enigmatic presence gnawing at my composure. A nervous tremor ran through me, and I turned, taking a few tentative steps away from his desk. ¡°Easy now, little Daegon. We¡¯ve already won, no need to push your luck or perspective he has of you.¡±


    ¡°Well then, would it be safe to leave the package for you here?¡± I asked, my throat tightening despite my attempt to sound composed. The shake in my voice was inevitable, but I had no doubt Kalth noticed.


    ¡°Of course, under CDS regulation this is the preferred designated drop-off location. And, even on postponement of signature you wouldn¡¯t be found liable of neglect for a successful drop-off.¡± Kalth¡¯s words came quickly, but with the precision of someone who knew every loophole. ¡°Leave it to a Fae to play every side.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s a relief.¡± I muttered, turning back around. My fingers tightened around the package, and I swiftly placed it on his desk. ¡°What is all of this, anyway?¡±


    ¡°Oh, nothing too risqu¨¦.¡± Kalth replied, leaning back in his chair, his fingers absentmindedly toying with a wooden stick. He was shaping it into some trinket, his focus unwavering, though his eyes never left me. ¡°Just all the information I could dig up on a particularly nasty bunch of human cultists from many moons ago. Keepers of Chained Twilight, if I recall. Like most of their kind, they simply vanished over time without a trace.¡±


    Keepers of Chained Twilight¡­ The name sent a chill down my spine. Kalth continued his work, but his eyes, his entire being, were locked onto me. A rush of emotions surged through me, disgust, fear, and an overwhelming, boiling rage that threatened to overtake my every thought. Even as I felt her presence stir within me, urging restraint, it wasn¡¯t enough to keep the floodgates from opening.


    ¡°HOW!?¡± I screamed, my voice faltering as the weight of the question crushed me. I stopped abruptly, shaking, unable to even form the thought clearly. Everything that had happened, everything I had endured, there was no human explanation for-¡­ Because Kalth isn¡¯t human¡­


    ¡°Process of elimination.¡± Kalth began, his voice smooth, almost detached. ¡°The Order of the Bound Flame, The Celestial Interdict, the Gilded Shackles, even The Iron Circle¡ªthough they too went dark around the same time¡ªleft records. Where they bound their entities, how to continue binding them. Most even left Oracles behind. But The Celestial Interdict and Keepers of Chained Twilight? They didn¡¯t. Between the two, only Twilight held a singular entity. And worse still, their existence was wiped clean. All the way down to their very souls. But the Fae have their ways of recovering the unrecoverable. A shame, though, none of the fools could even speak the entity''s name. The dead, it seems, are not always so cooperative.¡± Kalth spoke with eerie calmness, his eyes never straying from mine.


    The room felt suffocating, the air thick with tension, as my mind reeled. I felt her attempt to calm me from within, but I was long past the point of reason.


    ¡°Kalth, I swear I¡¯ll¡­¡± My voice was low, trembling with rage, as I took a few angry steps toward him, my hand extended, pointing at the Fae before me. Stopping short a few paces from the desk, an overbearing aura finally hit me. Not only Kalth¡¯s, but something from within me too, something ancient and unknowable. My body stiffened as my eyes locked onto the spectacle before me. The room around me began to pulse with color, each hue dancing in wild, chaotic patterns. Greens and yellows melded with blues and browns, like a landscape painted in a mad rush. At the epicenter, an exotic pink, as unique as Kalth¡¯s eyes, blazed with a refined intensity. And then, a deep, fathomless black. It swallowed me whole, enveloping me in a strange sense of calm, an unnatural serenity in the face of the looming despair.


    But just as quickly, my ability to see the auras faded, and I was snapped back to the reality of the Dominion, breathless and unsteady.


    ¡°Well, with introductions out of the way, I believe today¡¯s business is concluded. I¡¯m sure to have quite the offers for you when we meet tomorrow, Daegon.¡± Kalth¡¯s smile never wavered, though there was an unmistakable hint of frustration buried beneath the veneer of politeness.


    ¡°His goals have yet to be met.¡± She carefully spoke internally, as a concerning, no, worried feeling loomed. ¡°Should we talk later, Daegon?¡±


    ¡°Until tomorrow, then.¡± My words were laced with venom, and I couldn¡¯t suppress the glare that burned through me as I turned and stormed toward the door. With a swift motion, I threw it open and slammed it behind me, the sound of the impact reverberating in the small room. ¡°If I even had a hundredth of your power, I would¡­ Agh, that¡­ Jackass!¡±


    I stormed toward the nearest wall; my fist cocked as if I would strike it, but I stopped just short. My head fell to the cool surface instead, and I clenched my fists tightly, shutting my eyes as I forced myself to slow my breathing. The rush of rage and adrenaline surged through me, but after a few long moments, I felt it ebb away, leaving nothing but a simmering frustration in its wake.


    ¡°Wow.¡± A feminine voice suddenly pierced through my thoughts, causing me to jump. ¡°Here I thought you were all looks and no bite.¡±


    ¡°U-Utagawa!?¡± I yelped, stumbling toward a nearby chair as if it might offer me some support. But before I could completely fall, she was there, grabbing my arm and steadying me with surprising strength.


    ¡°Sorry, I wanted to wait for you to see what happened. Didn¡¯t expect you of all people to have that much rage in them.¡± Her voice was touched with amusement as she walked back to the desk, picking up a small bag of items as if nothing had happened. ¡°Well, let¡¯s go get some drinks and cool you off.¡±


    Before she could make it to the elevator, the door to Kalth¡¯s office swung open. We both froze, caught in an awkward moment, unsure how to react.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re still here, Utagawa. And Daegon¡­ That¡¯s a surprise.¡± Kalth¡¯s voice was slightly confused as his gaze shifted between the two of us. ¡°The uh, delivery cannot be completed today, sadly, Utagawa.¡±


    ¡°Oh, understood, sir.¡± Utagawa¡¯s tone shifted dramatically, becoming more formal. ¡°Daegon, was it? Want to come for drinks, then? It would be improper of us not to show you some hospitality.¡±


    ¡°Indeed¡­¡± Kalth¡¯s voice had an almost knowing quality to it, as though this was all part of some subtle game. ¡°Utagawa, maybe treat him to some food as well? You can use it as a company expense for the inconvenience.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing, Boss.¡± Utagawa¡¯s voice was back to its professional cadence as she gestured for me to follow. ¡°If you¡¯d excuse us, then.¡±


    ¡°O-oh, yeah. Thank you, Director Kalth.¡± I managed to say, my voice strained, though I hid the spite simmering beneath.


    <hr>


    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe you slammed the door. What even went on in there? I thought you were ignoring my warning about the Contract, but you saw the pitfall and still jumped. That really had to piss the Director off.¡± Utagawa spoke after slamming back her drink. She quickly reached over and pressed a button on a screen to finalize another round of drinks.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t hear?¡± I spoke nervously, unsure how much Utagawa overheard.


    ¡°When the door¡¯s properly closed, nothing gets in or out of the room. When we arrived it wasn¡¯t closed, but I properly closed it when I left. Then, you slamming it also ensured it was closed. A barrier of sorts forms to ensure privacy.¡± Utagawa explained matter-of-factly, as another round of drinks arrived, despite my barely touched glass.


    ¡°Well¡­ Kalth has information about my past.¡± I muttered, staring down into the foamy gold of my drink. There weren¡¯t many places in Eerie¡¯s Respite that served alcohol¡ªit was considered a luxury, so I was savoring mine. Utagawa, on the other hand, was happily sipping hers before she finished it off with a single gulp.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t surprise me. Kalth has a habit of digging up dirt on anyone he takes an interest in¡­ So, are you gonna drink that, or are you just gonna stare at it?¡± Utagawa motioned to my untouched drink, her voice light but teasing. ¡°We¡¯ve got all day and a blank check at Kalth¡¯s expense. Don¡¯t hold back.¡±


    The implication hung in the air, and I couldn¡¯t help but take a long sip, the drink burning pleasantly down my throat.


    <hr>


    It was well past midday when we finished Utagawa¡¯s ¡®de-stress from work drinks,¡¯ and we found ourselves walking down one of the bustling streets of the Bastion. The towering Dominion of Shinpo no T¨­ loomed behind us, one of the three largest buildings in the entire city, and the largest by far. A relic of a time long past, it had been restored to its current splendor. But even as it towered behind us, I couldn¡¯t shake the eerie feeling it gave me. I¡¯d been told it wasn¡¯t just a place for ¡®workplaces and blocks,¡¯ and I was lucky to have only seen its more mundane side. Apparently, whole floors hid things I¡¯d rather forget.


    As we continued down the road, the vibrancy of this booming Bastion didn¡¯t escape my notice. Oriental dragons and other mythical creatures were depicted across the buildings that were painted, carved, or sculpted into the walls. They ranged from small, friendly beings to massive, terrifying figures. Utagawa explained that it was ¡®part of tradition to show respect¡¯ to both the supernatural and one another, with the d¨¦cor serving as a reminder of that respect. Much like Eerie¡¯s Respite, cleanliness here was paramount. The air was thick with the fragrant smells of cooked meals as we passed dozens of people¡ªsome of whom definitely didn¡¯t feel like people at all. For reasons I couldn¡¯t explain, none of them reacted to me, but I could feel their prying eyes and intentions.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    We walked for some time, Utagawa ranting about the stresses of her job and the ''problems'' Fae had when interacting with humans.


    One thing that really stuck out was the architecture. The slanted, curved roofs and the eclectic mix of styles with unique artwork everywhere, was a stark contrast to Eerie¡¯s Respite¡¯s simplicity and robustness. The density of people, too, was overwhelming. At one point, Utagawa had to pull me forward when I nearly froze up from the sheer number of bodies around us.


    ¡°Man, you¡¯re really not from here. Too many people for ya? Don¡¯t worry we¡¯re almost to our free food extravaganza.¡± She giggled, and I couldn¡¯t help but be a little concerned that after four drinks, she might just pass out any moment.


    We quickly turned down a side street, and I was immediately hit with the heavy mix of scents that made my stomach growl in protest entering through a side door.


    ¡°Come on, this way. They¡¯ve got a private area. All on the company card.¡± Utagawa cooed, flashing a mischievous grin. She waved at one of the cooks in the back, raising two fingers as we made our way through the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯ve been coming here forever; I¡¯m pretty sure I own half the shop at this point.¡±


    We entered a small private room with a round table and four chairs. We took the two closest spots, opposite each other near the entrance.


    "So, since this is on the company¡¯s dime." Utagawa said with a grin. "Why not try a little bit of everything?"


    <hr>


    To say the amount of food delivered was astonishing would be an understatement, especially considering the sheer volume of booze. It felt like enough to feed a dozen people, yet Utagawa didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment, diving right in. Mountains of noodles, soups, and even raw dishes piled high on what looked like a cloud of white vapor. Curiously, nearly every ingredient was raw.


    ¡°Alright, Daegon.¡± Utagawa said, wiping her mouth after polishing off her first plate of the raw delicacies atop the white cloud. ¡°I¡¯ve been rambling on about my job. So, how do you like working for the CDS? Can¡¯t say I¡¯ve ever heard of a human working there before.¡± She tossed some raw meat into a boiling pot between us, the steam rising in a swirl.


    Taking closer note, the boiling post had two sides with two different aromatic liquids bubbling at the bottom. Utagawa was clearly an expert in this, as she loaded up both sides appropriately, and turned on a smaller pot and began tossing in noodles.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s definitely hasn¡¯t been easy.¡± I replied, reflecting on my first days there. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ less work than I¡¯ve done before. I used to salvage outside the Bastion for goods to resell. Spent more time out there than inside, you could say.¡±


    ¡°Ah now that sounds like stories you can tell.¡± Utagawa grinned, filling up two glasses and sliding them my way. ¡°Life outside the walls isn¡¯t something I¡¯ve even considered, probably ¡®cause of all the damn work they stuff down our throats.¡± She pushed the smaller glass toward me even more. ¡°Drink the little one first, then chase it with the big one.¡±


    Nervously following her instructions, I knocked back the small shot of booze and nearly gagged, quickly slamming the larger glass to clear the taste. A few coughs escaped as the burn hit my throat. ¡°That was horrendous!¡± I coughed out.


    Utagawa burst into laughter halfway through my struggle, her face lighting up with amusement. She quickly arranged a small plate of the raw food on the cloud before me. ¡°Oh man, I knew this would be great. Don¡¯t worry, this is much better. And hey, don¡¯t stop your story now. You got any work buddies in the CDS? How¡¯s life outside your walls?¡±


    I stared at the raw dish she slid in front of me, puzzled for a moment, before glancing over at the meat she was working with. The cuts were pink, with symmetrical lines running against the grain. It looked just like the stuff Utagawa had devoured earlier, so it couldn¡¯t be that bad, right?


    ¡°Well¡­¡± I hesitated, picking up a piece of the meat and examining it closely. It was cold and had a sticky, white cloud beneath it, composed of small, long strands. ¡°The only partner I¡¯ve had in the CDS is an armored bear. He¡¯s literally double my height. Really kind, though¡­¡±


    ¡°A bear? Like, one of those big forest animals in books?¡± Utagawa¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°God, I bet that¡¯s absolutely terrifying.¡± She shoved a steaming bowl my way, filled with the noodles and meat she had just cooked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the food; I¡¯ll cook, you talk. Tell me more!¡±


    <hr>


    Over the course of the massive meal and Utagawa¡¯s increasingly boisterous volume, we ended up sharing more than a few stories. Before the evening hit full stride, an individual I assumed was the owner came in to thank us for our patronage, offering more food and drinks, then sealed the door to our little room. The entire experience, despite our short acquaintance, had the uncanny feeling of being with old friends. Whenever my mood seemed to darken or my thoughts wandered, Utagawa would launch into fresh shenanigans from work or her personal life to keep things moving.


    Utagawa spilled the details of her predicament with gusto, explaining how she¡¯d out-drunk Fuzu, leaving her flat on her back and fumbling a betted contract. As a result, Fuzu had been forced into the subservient role, and that it fundamentally changed her character.


    ¡°Not that I¡¯m complainin¡¯.¡± she muttered, following a lengthy ¡°aaaaaaa-omp¡± as she dug into a hefty slice of cooked meat. ¡°She was a pain in the ass before. Seriously, though, why of all people did she think I¡¯d wanna marry her?¡±


    Tricking Fuzu seemed to have invalidated any prior contracts she was bound to, and nearly every Fae stopped bothering her altogether, including those she worked with directly. The ¡®biggest downside¡¯ as Utagawa put it, was that Fuzu had moved in and had been relentlessly pursuing her ever since.


    ¡°She¡¯s literally head over heels for me.¡± Utagawa grumbled, taking another bite. ¡°And sure, she¡¯s pretty. But I can¡¯t possibly like a Fae. And she¡¯s so damn short. Makes up for it by being the biggest pain in my ass, though. That¡¯s for sure. Both mentally and with her hands.¡±


    Our conversation meandered through many topics, other beings and creatures we¡¯d encountered, how Eerie¡¯s Respite functioned, and, eventually, Utagawa poking around about any love interests I might have.


    ¡°C¡¯mon, a young guy like you must¡¯ve put the moves on someone. Neither of us is gonna remember this after all these drinks anyway!¡± Utagawa said cheerfully, slamming back another in her endless series of drinks with a satisfied sigh.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± I hesitated, then downed my own glass and set it back on the table. ¡°The last person I tried to date turned out to be a Kitsune. That didn¡¯t go so well. Though I think she thought I was something else entirely. And, uh¡­ I¡¯m pretty sure a werewolf is interested in me. Still not sure how I feel about that.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Utagawa nearly choked on her food, setting down a fresh plate to gape at me. ¡°You¡¯re telling me a fox spirit and a werewolf are into you? Are you living in some kind of trashy romance novel or what? Wait, are they hot?¡±


    ¡°I-I mean, uhh¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, they are!¡± she crowed, her eyes lighting up. ¡°Wait, so how does that even work? Can you, uh, you know¡­ Do you need them to stay in their human form or¡­? Could you like, get them both at the same time¡­?¡± Her voice trailed off as she leaned back, toying with the idea like it was the juiciest of gossip.


    ¡°I-uh, have it on good authority t-that... J-Jaskrim said there¡¯s humans that live with the supernatural willingly, and even have relationships.¡± I spoke, attempting to divert any further questions to myself. Whirls of emotions on that subject were all over.


    ¡°Ohhh, the giant bear man? He¡¯s covered in fur, right? Bet he gives the best hugs. Fuzu just gropes me.¡± she added with a laugh, grabbing another empty plate to stack onto the towering pile. She paused, suddenly realizing the extent of our carnage. ¡°Good lord, did we eat all of that?¡±


    I blinked, coming back to reality. The table was a battlefield of empty plates and drained glasses, towering high enough to inspire a sense of shame, or pride. Nothing remained in our wake.


    <hr>


    Intoxicated and carelessly venting about our lives, Utagawa paid the bill, and we stepped out onto the now dimly lit side street. Dusk had settled in, casting long shadows over the uneven pavement, but that didn¡¯t deter Utagawa from leading us to our next destination.


    ¡°The director told me to-, to, make sure you got treated well. Well, I¡¯m gonna make sure I do ju-just that!¡±


    The electric streetlamps of Home were replaced with hanging lanterns adorned with decorations, their flickering light casting shifting shadows on the buildings. A cool breeze drifted down the street, carrying with it the mingling aromas of nearby food carts. Once again, I could feel things around us paying attention, but never coming closer than necessary.


    Utagawa kept talking as we walked, sharing the history behind the streets and why they were built the way they were. Her words flowed easily, filling the silence in a way that felt oddly comforting. Eventually, we reached a bustling street alive with the chatter of people and the clatter of food stalls. Bright lights spilled over the road, and the smell of fresh food hit like a wall.


    ¡°Nope. Nope, I¡¯m-I am good.¡± I spoke quickly, immediately turning back around.


    ¡°Nooooo, wait Daegon. Just the first place I promise it¡¯ll be worth it. I haven¡¯t steered you wrong yet.¡± Utagawa beckoned as I turned to see her already making headway, attempting to usher me on.


    I smiled, and laughed, and laughed, and laughed... So much, that I ended up buckling and having to knee to regain my balance and composure. This whole situation, this entire day¡­ Is this what it feels like to be normal again? Was this what I left behind years ago? Were these feelings what I traded away? Utagawa had made her way back up to me at some point, kneeling beside me. I looked up wiping my face, not realizing I was just crying.


    ¡°Hey.¡± she said gently, sounding surprisingly sober compared to her previous speech. ¡°How about we call it a day?¡±


    <hr>


    We took to the side streets, a stark contrast to the bustling main thoroughfares. The atmosphere was almost tranquil, with faintly glowing lanterns hanging from the entrances of housing areas, casting a soft, warm light. The distant hum of the crowded streets lingered behind us, a reminder of the chaos we¡¯d left. Despite the distance we walked, the lights and monolithic presence of Shinpo no t¨­ still loomed, ever dominant. It was a landmark so prominent that anyone, whether inside or outside the Bastion, could orient themselves by its sheer stature.


    Finally, we arrived in front of a sizeable house as Utagawa pushed open the iron gate. Compared to my modest hovel, this place was a mansion. The two-story structure seemed vast, easily rivalling the size of The Den. Only now did it hit me, we¡¯d stopped talking almost entirely since she suggested we head back to her place.


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t get the wrong idea. We only got the bottom floor, right at the front.¡± Utagawa explained, gesturing to a nearby door.


    Stepping into the house, she flicked on a light switch, revealing a clean and meticulously organized space. A small meal-prep and dining area greeted us immediately, with a storage room tucked to the right. The flooring changed partway in, prompting me to watch as Utagawa slipped off her shoes before stepping onto the new tiles.


    ¡°Home with guest.¡± she hummed, her tone playful as she began loosening her clothing and made her way further inside. After locking the door behind me, I followed her lead, removing my shoes before moving past the threshold. Entering the dining area, I noticed a door to the right, slightly ajar, revealing a compact but elegantly designed bathroom. My gaze swept the rest of the room, quickly noting the absence of extra sleeping spaces or separate rooms.


    ¡°Hey, Daegon.¡± Utagawa called from deeper within. Her voice came from one of the unlit adjoining rooms down the hallway. I followed the sound into the shadowy corridor. ¡°Fuzu¡¯s out cold in that side room. You¡¯ll be sleeping in here.¡±


    At the end of the hallway was a decently sized room, though shadows kept it shrouded, leaving much of it obscured. Amid the dim light, I caught a faint glimpse of Utagawa¡¯s outline moving things around. I took a cautious step forward before pausing¡ªmy foot had landed on something unusual. Glancing down, I struggled to make it out in the gloom, but it appeared to be a pile of dirty laundry. Nudging it aside with my foot, I looked back up just as the light flickered on to reveal¡­


    ¡°So, am I prettier than that werewolf, Loverboy?¡± Utagawa whispered, her voice low and teasing as she appeared silently in front of me. Startled, I scrambled backward, landing ungracefully in the hallway. She stood there, her tall, powerful frame exuding both strength and allure, accentuated by her minimal clothing, which only emphasized her well-toned muscles and generous curves. A quiet snort escaped her as she tried to stifle a laugh, her expression flickering with amusement before she turned to leave. ¡°That¡¯s payback for going silent on me all the time.¡± she murmured, her tone both playful and triumphant.


    ¡°I-uh-uh-o-okay.¡±


    ¡°Oh gods, that face was priceless. You¡¯re never going to live that one down.¡± Utagawa called out, still giggling from the other room. Slowly, I got back to my feet, the weight of today¡¯s events pressing down on me like a lingering storm cloud. My back hit the wall, and my mind drifted to the whirlwind of encounters. From Zylas and The Den, to Jaskrim and Duals, and now Kalth and Utagawa. But also¡­


    ¡°Seren¡­ Arc¡­ Yao¡­ Layre¡­ Am I allowed to move on...?¡± I muttered under my breath, the ache of old wounds prickling at my thoughts.


    ¡°If it be a day or a millennium, the dead would want you to carry on.¡± a soothing voice came from beside me.


    ¡°You¡¯re probably right¡­¡± I murmured, staring blankly at the ceiling. My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a sharp jab to my side.


    ¡°Ow!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get the wrong idea about my wifey.¡± Fuzu said, her sharp tone snapping me out of my daze. I glanced down to meet her gaze. Despite her petite stature, her presence carried an undeniable weight. ¡°She¡¯s making the moves on you, so I won¡¯t complain. If it makes her happy, I won¡¯t stop her¡­ She¡¯s been happier today than she¡¯s been in months.¡±


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t think sh-¡± I faltered, but Fuzu cut me off with a quick, dismissive wave.


    ¡°You know what I am. Don¡¯t try to shroud the truth.¡± Fuzu said, her voice calm but firm. She started toward the ajar door in the hallway, pausing briefly to glance back. ¡°Survive Kalth, and maybe we can exchange favors.¡± A yawn escaped her as she disappeared into the shadows.


    Despite the ache of old memories clawing at my mind, Fuzu¡¯s words left me with a strange sense of peace. It had been months, maybe even over a year, since I had the clarity to truly reflect on my past. Caught between lingering ruminations and the chaos of the present, today felt like it might be the nudge I needed to move forward. Or, at least try.


    I let out a low, resigned sigh, scratching my head as a faint smile crept onto my face. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time to move on¡­¡± I murmured.


    ¡°Fu-Fuzu get to you, too?¡± Utagawa said from the doorway, leaning against the frame and wrapped in a large blanket. Her face was flushed, and she clutched yet another bottle in her hand.


    ¡°Nah¡­¡± I trailed off before attempting a confident tone. ¡°Should we keep the night going?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re cute.¡± Utagawa giggled, her eyes lighting up. ¡°Alright, lets keep the night warm together.¡±


    She led me into a dimly lit room illuminated by the flickering glow of a few candles on a low table. A large couch, or maybe an oversized bed, rested against the far wall. Utagawa flopped onto it with the fluidity of someone well accustomed to their intoxication. I chose a spot a short distance from her as she stretched and sprawled out before sitting back up.


    ¡°Alright, Loverboy. Drink up.¡± she said, holding out a bottle.


    The bottle was fresh, with only a minimal amount missing, but its strong aroma hit hard. I took a quick swig, hoping to avoid the worst of the burn. Utagawa reclaimed the bottle, letting her blanket fall slightly to reveal more of her figure once again.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s play with qu-questions. Let¡¯s t-take a drink, and answer.¡± Utagawa spoke, taking a small sip. ¡°Why haven-aven¡¯t you mentioned any other people? Werewolf this, bear man that.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t pulling any punches, but in my current state of emotional highs and lows, I felt oddly ready for the challenge.


    ¡°Well, I have three friends who are still around, but I try not to bother them much. The last group I hung around with¡­¡± I hesitated, feeling the familiar swell of intrusive thoughts clawing their way to the surface. ¡°They died. I had a girlfriend during that time¡­ Someone I was really starting to get close with¡­¡±


    I paused, the weight of my memories pressing down on me. Utagawa scooted closer, her attention steady and calming. I reached for the bottle, taking a long drink.


    ¡°And¡­ I got her, and the rest of them, killed. No, I¡­¡± My voice broke. ¡°I was the survivor.¡±


    The room fell silent. The candlelight flickered gently, the only movement in the heavy stillness that followed. Somewhere deep inside, I believed I was to blame, but there was also something that quietly urged me to let go.


    ¡°I had family, and a really strong friend group a few years ago.¡± Utagawa began, also watching the candles dance together. ¡°But for one reason or another, a lot of Fae, and other assholes, took interest in them. My parents were the first to be charmed, and my brother ended up disappearing. Shortly after, my two best friends ended up falling for a demon¡¯s deal¡­¡±


    There was a small pause, as she looked over and gave a forced smile, before returning her gaze to the candles. ¡°I tried everything I could, but the ones who took them wouldn¡¯t budge or accept any kind of bribe.¡±


    Her voice cracked slightly. She stared at the bottle before taking another deep drink, tears tracing silent paths down her cheeks as she leaned against my shoulder.


    ¡°I stumbled across Kalth by accident.¡± she continued; her tone tinged with forced optimism. ¡°He must have seen something in me because he offered a deal. He said he could free them all, find my friends, bring everything back to normal.¡±


    ¡°So, I offered up something beyond my life. He kept his word. Everyone came back, perfectly fine, with normal, happy lives. But¡­ every single one of them forgot who I was. Even people who had nothing to do with it. I was a nobody to them, just a stranger they passed on the street. And Kalth made sure I couldn¡¯t forget.¡±


    Her voice wavered as she laughed bitterly. ¡°My brother Isamu, my parents, even my best friends¡ªthey¡¯re all still a part of my life. But only in passing. For three years now, I¡¯ve watched them from a distance, weekly reminders of what I lost. Forced agony, of only knowing their life continues without me.¡±


    ¡°Then there¡¯s Fuzu. She felt like an escape from that hell. I thought she could challenge Kalth¡¯s contract and break me free, but¡­ she couldn¡¯t. That beautiful, stubborn little bitch couldn¡¯t keep up. And now¡­¡± She glanced at me; her voice soft but weighted. I didn¡¯t notice it until now, but she ended up wrapping an arm around my waist and nuzzled up. ¡°Now I think I¡¯m falling for her¡­ Gods, what a cruel turn of fate. My kind don¡¯t even look my way, and now with Fuzu even the stupid cryptids won¡¯t go near me¡­¡±


    It was¡­ A beautiful calamity, I thought. Misery is difficult to compare, yet sharing it offered a strange, calming solidarity, a perspective I hadn¡¯t realized I needed. Utagawa clung to my side, her warm tears soaking into my shoulder.


    ¡°I would of¡­ I have done the same.¡± I murmured, wrapping a gentle arm around her and softly rubbing her head. Taking the bottle from her, I tilted it back for a hefty drink. We were definitely drinking too much, too fast. ¡°Seren, and that group was my adventurous comeback. Before that, I made a deal to escape my own living hell.¡±


    Utagawa shifted, leaning more heavily against me for support. She draped the loosely clinging blanket over both of us, though it barely managed to cover me at all. With a tired huff, she slid back onto the bed, settling into the mountain of pillows and covers surrounding her.


    ¡°About fifteen years ago, I¡­¡± I started to recount, only to be interrupted by a light kick to my back.


    ¡°No more trauma sharing, or we¡¯re just gonna cry ourselves to sleep together.¡± Utagawa interjected, a faint, forced smile softening her words. ¡°Come here. You still gotta tell me I¡¯m prettier than that werewolf.¡±


    A laugh escaped me, completely unintentional.


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t laugh, I¡¯ve worked hard on this body, you know.¡± She protested; her tone exaggeratedly indignant. ¡°I hit the gym regularly and everything. Are you seriously gonna tell me some lewd mutt is more attractive than me?¡± She pouted, her expression teetering between irritation and mock offense.


    ¡°No¡­ You¡¯re definitely prettier.¡± I whispered, a wave of shame creeping in as I realized just how much my thoughts were now spiralling.


    Her face turned smug, her arms wrapping tightly around me as she pulled me in close, so close it was almost suffocating.


    I managed to push back slightly, putting a little distance between us just to breathe. She hummed in victory, clearly savoring the moment. Unfortunately, my thoughts didn¡¯t stay contained. One of them slipped out before I could stop it. ¡°Valia was really soft though¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, then I¡¯ll just have to up my sleep game to stay ahead.¡± Utagawa retorted with a sly grin, catching me completely off guard. My face immediately burned with embarrassment.


    ¡°Hey, get comfy too.¡± She said, pushing me back gently as her hands tugged at my shirt. Her own cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red, a rare crack in her usual confidence.


    ¡°I¡­¡± I stammered, flustered and unsure of what to say.


    She pressed two fingers lightly against my lips, silencing me.


    ¡°Just¡­ Please give me that comfort. For a night¡­¡±